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Kelly Johnson is moving his way back up to the top of the order.

The Toronto Blue Jays second baseman is slated to bat in the No. 2 spot when the season begins April 5 in Cleveland.

Although he has batted first or second for most of his major-league career, he says it doesn’t matter to him where he hits.

"It ultimately comes down to how you're doing," the 30-year-old from Austin, Texas, said. "If you can be a consistent hitter and be the best hitter you can be and you’re doing everything right then I feel I fit in a number of spots."

He batted sixth in 16 of his 32 starts for Toronto after he was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks last Aug. 23 in a trade for John McDonald and Aaron Hill. He was used as the No. 2 hitter twice.

He said his mindset doesn’t necessarily change when he bats second. But he says the situations when he comes to bat are different compared to other places in the order.

"I think the opportunities are different," he said. "In the two-hole, or up in the lineup, you’re going to have more of those opportunities where you’ve got, like a runner at second nobody out, or a bunt situation, or a hit-and-run situation, or nobody on and you need to start the inning, you need to start a rally.

Kapono wrote:I like it. Two of our best OBP guys batting in front of Bautista. Perfect.

So Im guessing the lineup is pretty much set in stone now:

1. Esco
2. KJ
3. Joey Bats
4. Lind
5. EE
6. Rasmus
7. Lawrie
8. Thames or Snider
9. JPA

Skin Blues wrote:Lawrie 7th? I can't see that happening for long, if at all. He should be no later than 5th. Hell, put him cleanup and slide everybody down one. The world won't collapse on itself if we have two right-handed batters in a row.

LBJSeizedMyID wrote:

Skin Blues wrote:Lawrie 7th? I can't see that happening for long, if at all. He should be no later than 5th. Hell, put him cleanup and slide everybody down one. The world won't collapse on itself if we have two right-handed batters in a row.

We should also make him Prime Minister. You don't get handed the job, you earn it. He'll work his way up sooner rather than later, but this is the right spot if you were making a lineup to begin the season.