ST. PETERSBURG, Fla -- Jose Iglesias was back in the lineup Monday night, a day after manager Bobby Valentine made the unusual move to pinch-hit for him four pitches into an at-bat.
Valentine said he spoke with Iglesias again after the game Sunday in Toronto, making sure the shortstop understood his reasoning for having Daniel Nava take his spot in the top of the seventh inning.
Iglesias went into Monday's game with just two hits in his first 28 at-bats (.071) since being called up.
"It's been a little too early to figure it all out for me," said Valentine. "But (Iglesias and hitting coach Dave Magadan) are working on stuff."
Valentine said Iglesias looks now like he did early last spring training before his confidence began to wane.
Iglesias has started at short in 11 of the last 19 games. He's struck out seven times in his 28 at-bats, but while he's made fairly regular contact, the hits haven't come yet.
"I don't think he's quite found himself yet as a hitter," said Valentine. "I don't know that it's necessarily strength. I think it's swing more than strength. But again, I haven't quite evaluated the whole situation yet and what he needs to do."