Rockies' options for leadoff include LeMahieu

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - With the Rockies planning to use defending National League batting champ Michael Cuddyer in the No. 2 spot in the batting order, manager Walt Weiss has the flexibility to move second baseman DJ LeMahieu -- penciled in the No. 8 hole after hitting second much of last year -- to the leadoff spot at times.

Left-handed hitting outfielder Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson are candidates to hit leadoff. But when Drew Stubbs, acquired from the Indians this offseason, is in the lineup, Weiss wants another option at the top and believes LeMahieu can do the job, even though he has a .314 career on-base percentage.

"His on-base percentage wasn't prototypical leadoff guy, but I think that's going to develop because he's got such great instincts for the game," Weiss said. "That's going to be a part of the game you're going to see him improve on. He's still an option to hit in the two-hole, because he does that very well, handles the bat very well."

The Reds tried Stubbs as a leadoff man early in his career but high strikeouts scuttled that experiment.

"I wouldn't say I rule it out, but on the surface, when I look at the club, I probably see him right after the middle of the order, somewhere down there," Weiss said.