BRADENTON, Fla. - No position is no problem for Bobby Hill.

In all likelihood, Hill will spend his second season with the Pittsburgh Pirates playing from the bench, a prospect that doesn't sit too heavily with the infielder heading into his sixth season without a permanent home.

Hill's best position is second base, but Jose Castillo rode his solid rookie season to a starting job there.

Hill learned to play third last year, but the Pirates are committed to Ty Wigginton, whom they acquired from the New York Mets in July.

He played shortstop in college, but Jack Wilson has all but locked up that position.

"Whatever is in store for me, I'll be ready," Hill said. "Whatever extra these guys want me to do, I'll be ready for that, too. I'm going to be ready for whatever they throw at me."

The sporadic playing time hasn't put a damper on Hill's numbers this spring.

He has five hits in 14 at-bats, including a pinch-hit home run. Hill has excelled as a pinch-hitting specialist, as thankless as that job may be for a young player trying to establish himself in the major leagues.

The 26-year-old Hill has taken the role as a challenge.

"I'm going to do it better," he said. "If I have to come off the bench and pinch-hit, I'm going to have a better year - period. I had a great year last year in that role, but I'll have a better one. That's just how I work."

Hill led the Pirates and ranked among the National League's best with 16 pinch-hits last year. He batted .266 with two homers and 27 RBI.

Hill and Castillo shared playing time at the start of the season, but the more Hill produced off the bench, the less he saw of the field. His last start at second base came Aug. 27. He started twice at third in the final five weeks of the season.

Despite playing in 126 games, Hill accumulated only 233 at-bats.

Hill isn't worried that he will become labeled as a bench player so early in his major-league career.

"If I start worrying about what is going to happen a month from now, a year from now or two years from now, I'm going to get out of that little bubble, my focus zone," he said. "I have to do what I can to be a better player now."

Hill reported to camp absent the back problems that plagued him since the Pirates acquired him in August 2003 from the Chicago Cubs. In the offseason, he was able to lift weights and do drills aimed at improving his agility, speed and footwork.

"To me, it looks like those things are behind him," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He's in great shape, he's feeling good and he's a lot stronger than he was last year."

Hill thinks the extra work also will make him a better defense player.

One reason he wasn't able to beat out Castillo last spring was because of his limited range in the field.

"I didn't have that first-step quickness," Hill said. "I've tried to quicken up my feet and get that back."

Hill also would like to become a base-stealing threat.

Two years ago, he stole 35 bases between Triple-A and a stint with the Cubs. Last year, he was 0-for-3.

"He's still trying to establish himself as a big leaguer and trying to improve his game," Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said. "I know he'd like a bigger role, and I'm sure he'll continue to work to do that."