This is no experiment. What Eddy Martinez-Esteve will go through this year playing left field for the Connecticut Defenders is more like a Broadway production. And that fits the former theater major quite well.

The San Francisco Giants love the righthanded swing of Martinez-Esteve, but injuries have slowed his progress on the field. He played some left field last year in San Jose, but now he's really getting an education at the position.

"This is a good place to play the outfield," said Martinez-Esteve before Wednesday's win over New Hampshire that upped Connecticut's record to 5-1, "just because it's such a big outfield and you have a lot of room to run and to cover a lot of ground. But I feel comfortable and my confidence is getting better doing this, so that's always a good sign."

Martinez-Esteve's biggest ally this year will be Dave Machemer. The Connecticut Defenders manager has -- and will -- watch the top prospect's every step in the outfield.

"I watch him all the time and he wants me to make sure he's doing the right thing," Machemer said. "He wants me to tell him when I see something that I think he can improve on because he wants to improve. He's got to play defense. We're in the National League, there is no DH."

Martinez-Esteve's biggest problem in the outfield right now is focus. While he's not out there counting the blades of grass, Machemer said he often let's his mind wander. That seems to plague young players, especially in the outfield where they're not as involved. Martinez-Esteve was used to being in the middle of everything as a first baseman in college.

"(Machemer) wants me to be ready every single pitch and every single play so it doesn't allow me to lose my focus," Martinez-Esteve said. "It's been good help and it's been good that he's been on me like that. It's not only making me a better outfielder, but a better baseball player."

Martinez-Esteve delayed that process by a couple of years after he graduated from the Westminster Christian School in Miami, the same place where major leaguers Alex Rodriguez and Doug Mientkiewicz got their start. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the third round of the 2002 draft, but decided to go to Florida State for two years instead.

"At the time I don't think I was ready to sign," Martinez-Esteve said. "Mentally I was still young and I've never lived away from home.

"I decided college was the best thing for me; (there are things) bigger than baseball and that's an education. You have to have an education no matter what. And I think I wanted to get my feet wet and start that path."

Martinez-Esteve still has plans to pursue his degree in theater and while he minored in English, physical therapy might be a more suitable field. While he's completely recovered from a variety of injuries (shoulder and foot), he still needs some extra preparation before a game. He works with trainer Anthony Reyes before each game to strengthen his right shoulder.

Martinez-Esteve's potent bat remained last year despite having offseason shoulder surgery. In fact, he greatly improved from 2004. He batted .313 with 17 home runs and 94 RBI with San Jose. There really wasn't much to that success except for hard work.

"Every time I get up to the plate, I try to have a quality at-bat," Martinez-Esteve said. "I don't have an at-bat to have an at-bat. I always try to work on something and have a quality at-bat while I'm in the batter's box and that's where the success comes from."