When Jake Gatewood found out the Milwaukee Brewers were going to switch him from shortstop to third base, he quickly hit up YouTube.

"I started watching video of Nolan Arenado, Manny Machado and Josh Donaldson," said Gatewood, a first-round pick (No. 41 overall) in 2014. "It's been really helpful to see how those guys play the position."

Gatewood blasted his way into an elite level when he won the Junior portion of the All-Star Game Home Run Derby at Citi Field and the Under Armour All-America Game Home Run Derby at Wrigley Field in 2013.

Last fall, the Brewers alternated Gatewood and Gilbert Lara at shortstop and third base in instructional ball. By the time Spring Training rolled around, third base was Gatewood's new home, and it's a position he's manned for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers this season.

"The Brewers told me, being a bigger guy, 6-foot-5, and putting on the weight that I have since high school is something that they profile as a third baseman," Gatewood said. "Also, my bat, being a power hitter, is more of a third baseman-type of bat.

"Growing up, I always pictured myself as a shortstop in the big leagues. My biggest thing, when they told me, was that I want to play in the big leagues. Wherever the Brewers feel I need to play … I trust them. If that's where the Brewers need me to play in the big leagues, that's where I'm going to play."

Gatewood said the transition has been challenging.

"I feel like, mentally, it's completely different at third base than shortstop," Gatewood said. "You have to react so quick to everything. At shortstop, you get a little bit of time. Coming into balls and making a decision right away is something I struggle with. In Spring Training, I was letting balls eat me up. I was coming in on balls I shouldn't have come in on. I think third is a little tougher, mentally."

Even though Gatewood turned in a strong season defensively at shortstop last season, Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson said Gatewood's body type, range and fielding ability all project to third base. Switching from a lateral-oriented position to a front-back position is Gatewood's main challenge.

"Jake has decent hands," Erickson said. "If the ball finds his glove, it usually sticks in it. It's just the footwork is a little different on the corners. His biggest thing right now is his footwork after the catch. You rarely get into that routine fielding position at third base. It's more of a reaction position, where your fielding position is at all different angles. Getting your footwork back to first base, with distance and direction toward your target, is something Jake is trying to get better at. The last couple of series, he's been very good and made some nice plays."

Gatewood is also looking to improve on his 2015 numbers at the plate. He hit .209 in 55 games with Wisconsin, smacking four homers and driving in 16 runs. In 54 games with Helena, he hit .274 with six homers and 41 RBIs.

"Jake's a guy who's got a great sound off his bat in batting practice," Erickson said. "We're just trying to get him into a consistent hitting position in competition to where he can recognize the strike zone and the different pitches, and be able to use the big part of the field and stay inside the ball, as opposed to coming off the ball.

"Jake has power," Erickson added. "When he tries to create a little more, he gets in trouble. When he trusts and he gets in position, controls the barrel, he can be a dangerous hitter."

Gatewood said his father, Henry, has helped him adjust to pro ball. Henry Gatewood was drafted in 1982 and spent seven seasons in the Minors.

"He's helped me out a ton," Gatewood said of his father. "[Before I went to Rookie ball] he told me, you're only going to be as good as you are tough mentally. You have to be tough. If you're not tough, you're not going to last long. At the time, I didn't know what he meant. You really don't struggle much in high school. After the first half of my Rookie season, I realized, this game really is mental. You can go into BP and have a perfect swing, but if you're not going into a game mentally prepared, it can mean nothing."

In brief

Hot streak: Dayton pitcher Franderlin Romero dominated in his last three starts. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-hander pitched 18 innings in that stretch, giving up one earned run and 10 hits, striking out 19 and walking four. Romero had 10 consecutive hitless innings over two of those starts, striking out 13 and walking none.

Tough loss: Quad Cities pitchers combined for 19 strikeouts and nine consecutive scoreless innings but dropped a 3-2 decision in 13 innings on Tuesday against Great Lakes. Alex Winkelman recorded a career-high eight strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.

Grounded: The Great Lakes Loons are trying to shake off a six-game losing streak. Their offense has had a hard time coming around in the chilly spring weather. The Loons are last in the Midwest League with a team batting average of .199 and have a league-low .263 on-base percentage.