ESPN

MESA, Ariz. – New Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum seems content with letting Starlin Castro dictate where he will hit in the Cubs' lineup.

Sveum has plenty of options for Castro, including the leadoff spot, but doesn't seem fixated on just one role for his young hitter.

“It's an intriguing question, and a lot of lineups are going to be out by the way guys perform in spring training because right now going in we don't have that bona fide leadoff, that bona fide third, fourth, fifth hitter, so we've got some guys that have had some success but not super at the big-league level,” Sveum said.

Castro has spent most of the time in his young career batting out of the leadoff spot and the No. 2 spot. In 339 plate-appearances as a leadoff hitter he is batting .323 with a .366 on-base percentage. He has 499 plate appearances in the second spot batting .318 with a .349 on-base mark.

Last season, though, he started his move toward the heart of the order. He actually had more plate appearances in the No. 3 hole (187) than the No. 2 spot (184). He started 42 games at each spot.

“You can make numbers look any way you want but there's always that decision to make with great hitters like that,” Sveum said. “When do we put him in that three or four or five spot? It comes a time where you can't just sit there all the time like he's comfortable in the two spot and leave him there when we need him in other spots.”