TORONTO -- Rob Refsnyder said he's ready to play first base if the Yankees need him.





Refsnyder has never played there professionally, but with the Yankees in need of a backup, the 25-year-old utility man said his work at the position before Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre went well.



Well enough, apparently, to give Refsnyder some confidence.



"I feel comfortable enough to try it in a game and see how it goes," he said.



When the Yankees lost Dustin Ackley to a season-ending right shoulder labrum tear on Sunday, they lost their primary backup for the fragile Mark Teixeira.

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Austin Romine has played the position a handful of times in the majors and has spent about two dozen games there in the minors. But he's the team's backup catcher and the Yankees would likely rather not risk him getting injured there. Romine also isn't a natural, though he's shown ability.



Moving around, however, is nothing new for Refsnyder. He was a right fielder for the University of Arizona before the Yankees drafted him and turned him into a second baseman. This spring, he started taking grounders at third base, and he's played corner outfield in the majors and minors this year.



Refsnyder said he was told Tuesday that he'd have to work out at the position on Wednesday. He did his work with first base coach Tony Pena and infield coordinator Joe Espada watching and Romine taking grounders alongside him.



Refsnyder has shown he can hit in the minors. He was hitting .294 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 35 games. He's got a career .290 batting average as a minor leaguer. He doesn't have much pop (35 homers over five seasons) and isn't considered a strong defender at any of the positions he plays.



Refsnyder has accepted the he'll have to increase his versatility to stick on the big-league roster.



"Exactly," he said. "That's the position I'm in. So just, do whatever, you know. Work at it."

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.