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Still being a leader in clubhouse

Tuesday March 01, 2011 | 12:00 AM

Dave Konopki dkonopki@timesleader.com

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Michael Young changes the music on the stereo in the Texas Rangers clubhouse, then takes the bat between practice swings and uses it like a guitar as he mimics the hard-rock riff.

A new first baseman’s mitt is among several different gloves in Young’s locker. There is a smile on his face while joking around with teammates.

Though the Rangers’ longest-tenured player and career hits leader requested a trade this offseason and is changing positions again, Young is “completely comfortable” in the clubhouse.

“This is my home away from home being with these guys,” Young said Monday. “I obviously have a lot of loyalty toward them, I know they have a lot of loyalty toward me. ... My place in the clubhouse has nothing to do with anything else.”

Young, now the primary designated hitter and utility infielder for Texas, played first base in a game for the first time ever — in the majors, minors or even Little League — in a Cactus League game against Kansas City on Monday.

Using a mitt borrowed from Chris Davis instead of his new one still being broken in, Young had two fielding chances in his four innings. There was an unassisted putout on a grounder and he took a throw from second baseman Ian Kinsler on another grounder. At the plate, Young was 2 for 2 with a double and a triple.

“Everything was pretty routine,” Young said. “No big surprises at all.”

Two-time Gold Glove winner Adrian Beltre was signed this winter to play third base, Young’s position the last two seasons after he had been a five-time All-Star shortstop.

The Rangers tried unsuccessfully to accommodate Young’s trade request. When he reported to spring training, he told his teammates he wasn’t going to be a distraction as the AL champions prepared for the season.

“It didn’t have to be said or addressed,” AL MVP Josh Hamilton said. “It just shows what kind of man, what kind of leader he is, and wants to put the team first more than anything.”

Young arrives at the complex about 6:30 each morning, doing a lot of early work with infield coach Dave Anderson to adjust to playing first base and reacquainting himself with second base, his position when he became a starter for the Rangers in 2001. He switched to shortstop three springs later after Texas traded Alex Rodriguez.

“After all the (offseason) stuff is finished, I have to make sure that I’m getting myself prepared to have a big year, and that’s the most important thing,” Young said. “Obviously, I feel strongly about certain things, but it’s not going to have anything to do with how I prepare for a season, and I want to make sure that’s always my No. 1 priority.

“I owe it to myself and I owe it to the guys I play with to make sure I put myself in the best possible position to have success,” said Young, who is going into his 11th season, all with Texas.