New position keeping Choo in shape

PHOENIX -- Nearly halfway into the season, it is safe to say that Shin-Soo Choo has done more running as a converted center fielder for the Reds than he ever had to do as a corner outfielder with the Indians.

Choo feels like his body has held up OK so far, but there is a little less of him than there was before the season.

"I've lost a lot of weight," Choo said Saturday. "At Spring Training I was 224-225, and now I'm 207-208 pounds. I feel good. I felt overweight at Spring Training. I feel lighter."

Choo, who entered Saturday's game against the D-backs batting .278 with a .462 on-base percentage after a scorching start to 2013, did not think his hitting was affected by having less weight.

"People think that if they lose weight, they lose power; I don't feel like that," Choo said.

During Friday's 11-5 Reds loss to the D-backs, Choo had to use all of Chase Field's expansive center field to make a catch. In the sixth inning, he ran all the way back to the fence to snag Martin Prado's long drive for a sacrifice fly. He bobbled it briefly but recovered to make the out.

"Last night, Prado hit it well," Choo said. "I just kept seeing the ball. It was one of those catches, nothing special."