Positions are ranked in order of difficulty:
SS - 2B - CF - 3B - LF/RF - 1B
1 step left: -10%
2 steps left: -19%
3 steps left: -27%
4 steps left: -34%
5 steps left: -40% (maximum)
Examples:
A 1B playing SS (a move of five steps left) would lose 40% of his Range (RN) and Glove (GL) ratings.
A LF playing CF would lose 19% (a move of two steps).
1 step right: -8%
2 steps right: -6%
3 steps right: -4%
4 steps right: -2%
5 steps right: 0% (maximum)
Examples:
A SS playing 1B would see no drop in skill (5 steps to the right).
A 2B playing LF would have a 4% drop in skill (3 steps to the right).
There are two major changes to changing player's positions as of the June 2022 update
A player can be permanently moved to a different position, with some exceptions.
At this point, a player's actual ratings will permanently change to the position to which he has now converted. If moving to a harder position, a player's potential ratings change in the same fashion - if moving to an easier position, they will increase depending on how much easier the new position is. Thus, a player moving to an easier position has the possibility of becoming a better player at that position over time.
The effect of multiple permanent position changes over the course of a career can hurt a player's overall fielding skill. Players do better when they get to specialize.
In professional baseball, it is rare to see a player who throws left-handed playing 2B, 3B, SS, or C. As a result, CSFBL will not allow left-handed throwing players to permanently change to these positions. A player who throws left-handed will only be used at 2B,SS,3B, or C if there are no eligible players on the bench who throw right-handed.
Defensive penalties will be applied to all players who throw left-handed at 2B, 3B, and SS. The penalties are as follows:
Catchers are special, and players will not be able to permanently move to catcher if they start their career at a different position. Any player playing out of position as a catcher loses 34% of his Range (RN) and Glove (GL). Catchers moving to other positions are considered one step to the right of 1B. So, a C moving to 3B (three steps left) would lose 27% of his defensive skills. In addition, while playing out of position as a catcher, players incur a 75% penalty to the AR rating until the player converts.
A penalty will be applied to a catcher's arm rating with respect to base-stealing, based on the throwing arm of the catcher and the batting hand of the hitter at the plate. The penalties are as follows:
Stealing Second Base:
RTC + RHB: No penalty
RTC + LHB : -10%
LTC + RHB : -15%
LTC + LHB : -5%
Stealing Third Base:
RTC + RHB: -5%
RTC + LHB: No penalty
LTC + RHB: -40%
LTC + LHB: -40%