BRADENTON, Fla. -- For Steve Pearce, 13 was a lucky number yesterday.

Pearce, a highly regarded Pirates prospect, was the 13th player summoned to manager John Russell's office to meet with him and general manager Neal Huntington early yesterday morning.

"I thought I was adios," Pearce said. "My performance this spring hasn't been too good."

Unlike the 12 called in before him, Pearce was not sent to the minor-league camp. Instead, the Pirates told him he officially had become an outfielder and to concentrate on right field for the foreseeable future.

"They told me to put first base on hold," Pearce said, referring to his natural position.

Pearce, 24, was a first baseman through most of his meteoric rise from high Class A Lynchburg to the major leagues last season. He began to play right field with Class AAA Indianapolis in early August and played right almost exclusively with the Pirates in September.

"It's going to take a lot of work to take it to the next level," Pearce said. "I'm going to work my butt off."

Pearce seemed to adjust to playing right field rather easily last season.

"There was a lot of adrenaline going," he said with a grin. "There are still a lot of things I have to learn. There are a lot of questions I have to ask. It's definitely good when they're pushing you. I'll take all the constructive criticism I can get."

Pearce said he sensed the move would be made.

"Somewhat I did," he said, knowing Adam LaRoche is a fixture at first base for the Pirates. "We have two great guys in the outfield, but [the Pirates] think I can play left and right field."

Jason Bay is the Pirates' regular left fielder and Xavier Nady is the primary right fielder. Does that mean one of those players could be traded soon?

"No, not at all," Huntington said.

The Pirates told Pearce about the official move to right field a day after he went 0 for 5 and dropped a fly ball in right field in the game against Detroit at Lakeland.

"[Sunday] was a tough day for him," Huntington said. "We've asked too much of him -- playing two positions and trying to make the club. We're trying to help him reach his potential, which is sizable."

Does Pearce have a shot to make the opening day roster?

"As long as he's in major-league camp, he has a chance," Huntington said. "He's swung the bat well at times. Other times, he's been exploited by major-league pitching."

Pearce almost certainly will begin this season with Indianapolis.

"We don't want young players sitting on the bench," Huntington said. "They need to go where the development is."

Pearce is one of the few power-hitting prospects in the Pirates' organization. In a total of 157 games last season in the minors and majors, he hit .328 with 45 doubles, 31 home runs and 119 RBIs.

"I take this as they're recognizing my ability and that they're trying to get my best out of me," Pearce said. "I take that as a compliment."

Receiving that "compliment" occurred after a few anxious moments for Pearce. Third base coach Tony Beasley, in charge of notifying players to be sent out that they were wanted in Russell's office, tried to tell the players before they changed into their uniforms.

"It's embarrassing to start getting dressed and then be told not to," Huntington said.

When Beasley told Pearce to report to Russell's office, Pearce asked if he should get his uniform on.

"Yes," Beasley said, "but you have to go to his office."

Pearce seemed a bit flummoxed initially, but received his reprieve a few minutes later.

"I actually felt bad for Steve doing this on a day when a lot of antenna are up," Huntington said. "But we wanted to make sure we could go through his development plan and walk him through our expectations."