PORT CHARLOTTE — Kevin Kiermaier has his own honey do list.

Married life has been good since he and Marissa had the "best-day-ever" November wedding then a "week-in-paradise" honeymoon in Antigua. And if that didn't make for a hectic enough off-season, he also went to see both of his brothers get hitched in their own version of a Kiermaier triple play.

As Kiermaier rolled into the Rays spring training camp early, he laid out a chores list topped, after a second straight injury-shortened season, with restoring his reputation as an elite defender.

And not just on his team. Or only among centerfielders. Or, heck, even the major leagues.

As, he said, "the best defensive player on this planet."

Confidence, as you may know, has never been an issue for Kiermaier, whose rise from 31st-round draft pick to two-time Gold Glove winner and $50 million contract signer, is a testament to hard work, determination and positive thinking.

The two months he missed last summer due to a fractured right hip, following the seven weeks he sat out the year before after breaking his left hand, has jet-fueled his enthusiasm to get back in the gold-collecting business. (He was not eligible for the Gold Glove last season due to time missed.)

Also high priority: Expanding his leadership role on the Evan Longoria-less team, and improving his performance at the plate.

#Rays Kiermaier talking about his wedding day, honeymoon, busy offseason. (Spoiler alert - good times): pic.twitter.com/dreSfWycWo — Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 16, 2018

"It has never felt so good to be in Port Charlotte," Kiermaier, 27, said Friday. "This might be the most excited spring training I've ever had. I think part of it is because, unfortunately, I got hurt again last year and I have a lot to prove this year.

"It's become one of those things — I don't want to hear 'injury-prone.' I've broken two bones, unfortunately. I play hard. I know I need to stay on the field. I know all that. With that being said, I want to remind people what I did in 2015, and that was set a lot of records defensively. I say that just 'cause I want to remind people in the baseball world who the best defensive player on this planet is.

"I say that confidently, but at the same time I've heard a lot of different things brought up to me over this past year or so."

If you're a Kiermaier believer, you take that well, excited to see him racing into the gaps and flying through the air to live up to his nickname as the Outlaw by robbing hits.

But if you're a doubter, you think he's trying to cover too much ground, flashing back to his mystifying defensive slump early last season, convinced, no matter what he said, it was a result of trying too hard to live up to the new contract that guaranteed him $53.5 million over six years, and worrying there could be more of the same.

Its a been a crazy and wild ride leading up to our marriage but words cant describe how it feels to be married to my best friend. Life is so good! pic.twitter.com/WxikK9puj3 — Kevin Kiermaier (@KKiermaier39) November 14, 2017

Getting love for his glove is only part of Kiermaier's 2018 program.

After first asserting himself last spring as a leader, speaking up at the camp-opening meeting on the need to push together to the playoffs, Kiermaier already planned to take on a larger role, and will do so even more with Longoria traded.

"I've become a lot more comfortable with who I am as a player and I think I've earned all the respect I need to amongst my teammates," he said. "I think there is going to be more expected out of me on things that happen on and off the field or in the clubhouse when I do need to say something. I'll be more vocal."

Manager Kevin Cash is among those giving full endorsement, saying Kiermaier's energy, all-out hustle and commitment to winning give him "carte blanche" to lead as he sees fit.

Related, with Longoria gone, and that hefty paycheck, the Rays will lean even more on Kiermaier as the face of the franchise, featuring him in promotions, ads and appearances, which will require some time management.

Then there's the matter of his play on the other side of the ball. Even as defender of the universe, Kiermaier still wants to be better, and more consistent, at the plate. His impressive post-DL performance — .306 with eight homers, 19 RBIs and an .869 OPS over 36 games — provided a glimpse of what he can do when comfortable and confident, and from the top of the order. Cash is debating hitting him first or second this year.

So, what else? As a concession to the busy itinerary, Kiermaier trained on his own through Christmas time, but said he did the usual work on speed, flexibility and strength. As counter-intuitive as it sounds, he insists he's going to try to throttle back his aggressive play — at least in non-crucial times — to preserve his health knowing it's imperative he stay on the field all season.

So much to do. So much to prove.

So many errands to run.

Marc Topkin can be reached at mtopkin@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Rays