Starting in rightfield for the Minnesota Twins, Michael Cuddyer.

Rightfield? That wasn't how the Chesapeake native envisioned being introduced at the 48,000-seat Metrodome when the Twins made him the ninth overall pick in 1997.

But Cuddyer, who played third base or shortstop ever since his youth baseball days, welcomes a position change if that will win him a major league job.

``This is something I've always dreamed of,'' the 22-year-old Cuddyer said from his hotel room in Minneapolis last week after getting called up by the Twins from Double-A New Britain (Conn.). ``I would've come up here and caught if they wanted me to catch. This is the ultimate goal and whatever it takes to get here, that's what you've got to do.''

How eager was Cuddyer to get to the major leagues? After learning of his promotion, he drove 21 hours from Connecticut to Minneapolis while air travel was grounded following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

``I would've driven anywhere for this callup,'' he said.

Cuddyer and Virginia Beach's D.J. Dozier, an outfielder who played 25 games for the New York Mets in 1992, are the only homegrown South Hampton Roads position players to reach the major leagues in the last 20 years.

Cuddyer's .304 average, 30 home runs and 87 RBIs caught the Twins' attention, but so did his versatility on defense. He played 19 games in leftfield, 56 at first base and 81 at third base for New Britain after spending his first pro season at shortstop and the previous two at third.

Twins manager Tom Kelly told Cuddyer in spring training the team wanted him to learn new positions.

Twins third baseman Corey Koskie signed a three-year contract extension in March and has had a solid season, while Doug Mientkiewicz is entrenched at first base. Rightfield opened with the departure of Matt Lawton, who was traded to the Mets on July 30 for pitcher Rick Reed.

Cuddyer has worked out daily with Twins outfielders coach Jerry White since his callup.

``His best chance to get everyday play here is in the outfield,'' Minnesota general manager Terry Ryan said. ``He works hard, he's paid a lot of the dues that a player has to at the minor league level. Now it's just a matter of getting an opportunity.''

Although Cuddyer may get precious few opportunities while Minnesota remains in the pennant race, he was able to make his major league debut Sunday. He started at designated hitter and went 1 for 2 with a double and a walk in a 4-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians.

Still, getting to the major leagues had seemed several seasons away after Cuddyer's disappointing 2000 season. He had career lows in home runs (six), RBIs (61) and batting average (.263) in his first season at New Britain, which finished last in the Eastern League's six-team Northern Division.

After an offseason in the instructional league, Cuddyer this year helped New Britain win the regular-season division title. He led the Rock Cats in runs scored (94), slugging (.563) and homers and hit 35 doubles.

``Last year maybe he was a follower, this year he's a leader,'' New Britain manager Stan Cliburn said. ``The ability has always been there. To make that drastic of a change or have that turnaround is not all physical ability alone. It has a lot to do with the intangibles he learned.''

Cuddyer and outfielders Dustan Mohr and Michael Restovich became the first trio in the Rock Cats' 19-year history to hit more than 20 home runs each in a season. Mohr, 25, was promoted to Minnesota on Aug. 26. He and Cuddyer are likely to be competing next spring for a spot in the Twins' outfield.

``The Twins have to worry about that, not us,'' Cuddyer said. ``We just have to go out and play. Organizations have a way of finding ways to get you in the lineup.''

Cuddyer, a 1997 graduate of Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, is scheduled to participate in the Arizona Fall League for top prospects beginning in October. He expects to spend about a month at home in Chesapeake before spring training.

Until then, he's enjoying his first taste of the major leagues.

``I've never envisioned myself anywhere else,'' Cuddyer said. ``I just wanted to keep an even keel. Once that awe comes you lose your edge. I was prepared to come up here and act like a major leaguer.''