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Phoenix - Brewers manager Ron Roenicke indicated Saturday morning that he is ready to go with center fielder Carlos Gomez as his new leadoff hitter.

Roenicke has experimented with different hitters in the leadoff spot during exhibition play, including Gomez, Jean Segura, Rickie Weeks and Scooter Gennett. A new leadoff hitter was needed after the Brewers traded rightfielder Norichika Aoki to Kansas City over the winter for left-hander Will Smith.

Roenicke began using Gomez in the leadoff spot in recent days and liked what he saw, including a ringing double to open the game Friday against Texas that went past Gold Glove third baseman Adrian Beltre before he could react. Roenicke likes the double threat Gomez is leading off in terms of bringing both power and speed to that spot.

The tradeoff is that Gomez never has been much of an on-base hitter. His .338 OBP last year was by far the best of his career (.303 average). Gomez seldom walks (37 in 590 plate appearances in 2013) and often strikes out (146 last season).

"I'm liking what I see so far," said Roenicke, who will keep Segura in the No. 2 spot he occupied for most of last season. "If we see that it's working well, we're going to go with it."

Batting Gomez and Segura 1-2 atop the lineup would give the Brewers the fastest combination in those spots in the NL. Segura was second last year with 44 steals and Gomez was fourth with 40.

Roenicke said he spoke with Gomez about leading off to make sure he was OK with doing it but doesn't expect him to change his game offensively.

"I always feel like I should say something to them, and then you see how the player reacts to it," said Roenicke. "If he's going to go about it differently, then you may have to make a change.

"I think it's a really good way to start off the game. The pitcher has to be careful, and they're not usually locked in. The first batter is where they usually have the worst command. (Gomez) is doing well. He's staying healthy.

"For me, he's getting enough at-bats that he needs. He hasn't had as many as some of the other guys but he really feels good. I think the mental side is important. When you're feeling good, you usually hit."

Roenicke noted that none of his leadoff options are big on-base performers, which helped him settle on Gomez.

"Ideally, if you have a guy like (Shin-Soo) Choo, where he's going to walk 100 and some times, and see pitches, tht's different when you have a guy like that," said Roenicke.

So, the first five hitters project like this:

CF Carlos Gomez

SS Jean Segura

LF Ryan Braun

3B Aramis Ramirez

C Jonathan Lucroy

After that, Roenicke will align his lineup with who's playing second base, Weeks or Gennett, and who's playing first base along with left fielder Khris Davis. It's a lineup that will have pop from top to bottom as well as some players who can run.