You know how it is, every workplace has one. A person gets moved around from job to job because of incompetence at them all. The goal is to find where this—for whatever reason, untouchable—employee can do the least damage ... or, if everyone's lucky, a job that the person can actually handle.

Then you've got the folks who get shifted around because they do anything and everything well. Bosses love these versatile workers who are excellent anywhere. You just have to figure out where such an individual can make the most impact.

You see the former a lot in sports; a high draft pick or five-star recruit doesn't work out at one spot, so he gets a long look at another position, maybe even a third. He's an investment, and the team must be certain he's a flop before giving up.

Not quite as common is the itinerant star, the versatile standout who can, and does, play anywhere. But the University of Hawaii baseball team has one, sophomore Kolten Wong.

As a senior at Kamehameha-Hawaii he was a catcher. As a Rainbows freshman last year, he played center field. In UH's opener tonight against Oregon State at Les Murakami Stadium, Wong starts at second base.

It could be his final stop.

“;Yeah, the scouts and those guys, they all say this is probably my best position for the pros,”; Wong said before practice yesterday. “;I played it a lot as a kid, so I'm comfortable. I never had a set position, but second base is good for me because of my size and speed.”;

Often, offensive powerhouses like Wong (.344, 13 homers, 11 stolen bases playing in all 58 games last year) have to be hidden on defense in a corner somewhere, or as a DH. But with his speed, glove, arm, smarts and athleticism, Wong is an up-the-middle guy. And coach Mike Trapasso loves his up-the-middle defense guys.

“;We've gone the last four years ranked in the top 30 in the nation in fielding percentage,”; said Trapasso, who believes Wong's penchant for spectacular catches in center will translate to solid play at second. “;I think the fans will see what we've been seeing for two years. He played there for us all last fall. Before it's all said and done he will be above average. He does a real good job turning the double play. Quick hands and quick feet.”;

With senior starter Greg Garcia returning and continually improving at shortstop, the Rainbows figure to have a double play combo that gets better the more Garcia and Wong play together. UH hasn't had many recent seasons when both keystone players were expected to start nearly every game; it does now.

“;Kolten has great athleticism and a great work ethic,”; Garcia said. “;We all knew it would be a smooth transition, and we have great chemistry. The whole team does.”;

Wong's toughness as a high school running back and catcher gave him the fearlessness to run into walls last year. Now he'll hold his ground on the pivot with confidence.

As an infielder he can project more leadership; you don't see too many center fielders at those impromptu mound meetings.

“;I grew up being the guy wanting to take control, having the ball in my hand,”; Wong said. “;If there's a pressure situation, I want it on my back.”;

If second base is indeed Kolten Wong's final stop, it could take him and the Rainbows a long way.

Reach Star-Bulletin sports columnist Dave Reardon at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), his “;Quick Reads”; blog at starbulletin.com, and twitter.com/davereardon.