The transition from center field to right field has been an extremely smooth one for Chicago White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton.

Eaton ended April as the major league leader with 13 defensive runs saved and is our choice for the Defensive Player of the Month award.

The folks who work on Baseball Tonight often say that the worst defensive center fielders are still really good athletes and really good outfielders. Eaton’s play has borne that out. He’s netted eight runs saved for his ability to catch balls, three for the deterrent value of his throwing arm and two for “good fielding plays” such as cutting off a ball in the gap or along the line to prevent a runner from taking an extra base.

Adam Eaton has worked on his defense and his play has improved with the move from center field to right. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

This comes a season after Eaton finished with a minus-14 defensive runs saved, fifth-worst among all outfielders in the majors last season and third-worst among center fielders. Eaton’s number of defensive misplays and errors jumped from 18 in 2014 to 34 in 2015. He also had arthroscopic surgery to repair an injury to his left (throwing) shoulder.

“He was very frustrated with the type of season he had last season," said White Sox first base coach Darryl Boston, who positions the team's outfielders. "He’s made it a priority to be a better outfielder.”

So far in right field, Eaton has not made a mistake and he’s passed every test. He has nine good fielding plays, including five baserunner kills (outfield assists that did not require a cutoff man). He even started a triple play. He’s excelled at making both diving and leaping catches.

Boston cited Eaton’s work taking extra fly balls in batting practice as reasons for his success.

“His jumps have improved,” Boston said. “Last year in center, he had a lot of trouble with the ball hit in front of him. He no longer has those issues.”

Eaton’s move to right, coupled with the addition of Austin Jackson to play center, has had a huge payoff for the White Sox, as ESPN.com's Christina Kahrl noted earlier in April. Last season, the White Sox turned 66 percent of fly balls and outfield line drives into outs. Through the end of April, that rate was 72 percent.

Adam Eaton has chased down fly balls at a high rate this season. ESPN Stats & Information

The rate at which balls hit to Eaton (20 to 45 degrees) have been caught jumped from 65 percent to 75 percent.

“The coaching staff has done a heck of a job putting me in position to be successful,” Eaton said. “And Austin has done a great job putting me in the best position to catch the balls that nobody else catches and throw out the guys nobody else throws out. Hopefully it will continue.”