PHOENIX -- They say if you can learn to play the outfield in the Cactus League, you can play it anywhere.

The high sky and bright sun often make it difficult to track fly balls. Even experienced outfielders misjudge and lose balls here. But, the Brewers' Bill Hall is learning on the fly, so to speak, under the Arizona sun.

Hall, who excelled at shortstop last season after taking over for injured J.J. Hardy, has moved to center. He's playing most innings of most exhibition games in order to learn the position.

"To be honest, center was the position I wanted to play from the start if I was going to move from shortstop," said Hall, who hit 35 homers and drove in 85 runs last season. "I liked being in control of the infield at short, and I can still be in control in center. I can still run around and dive.

"I'm still going to play aggressive baseball. I think I can play out there. I want to be one of the best centerfielders in the game."

So far, Hall has played fairly well. He started back on a ball that eventually fell in front of him for a single in the Brewers' first Cactus League game. He's looked a little shaky on a couple other fly balls, but has made up for any lack of technique with his athletic ability.

"It's very difficult to play the outfield here," manager Ned Yost said. "If you're going to learn to play the outfield, you might as well learn it under the toughest conditions. Then, when you get to the regular season, it will be a little easier."

Hall, who signed a four-year, $25 million contract before camp, also has been more of a center of attention after his big year. He seems to enjoy it. When the players did 60-yard wind sprints before exhibition games started, Hall stripped down to sprinters' garb to run. It created a buzz among his teammates, who now are asking him where he ordered the suit.

"I had to give the boys a laugh," he said of the track suit. "Maybe I'll frame it."

In other news from camp:

Hot stars: Rookie Ryan Braun drove in seven runs in his first exhibition game and hit three homers in the first two games, but he then missed several subsequent games with a tender elbow.

"It's just a little tenderness when I throw," Braun said. "I've had it before early in the spring."

Braun has an outside chance of making the team, because it looks as though Corey Koskie (post-concussion syndrome) won't be ready. Craig Counsell and Tony Graffanino played third after Braun's elbow flareup.

Newly acquired Johnny Estrada also is off to a hot start, hitting better than .500 early. Geoff Jenkins, who is splitting time in left with Kevin Mench, was hitting around .600.

"I don't feel locked in as far as driving the ball everywhere, but I feel good about my approach," Jenkins said. "I'm just trying to stay fluid and not over swing."

Dazzling debut: Jeff Suppan made his first start on Monday and looked solid with one run in three innings.

"I was focusing on an area away," Suppan said. "Away up, away down and away off the plate are three different areas. As I get closer to the regular season, I like to be a little more fine."

Swinging away: After receiving a cortisone injection in his right wrist, second baseman Rickie Weeks was restricted to bunting duty during his first few Cactus League games. He was only 1 for 10 as a bunter, but he swung away Tuesday and led off with a single against the Cubs.

Up and coming: Francisco Cordero, who was impressive as the closer last season, will pitch his first inning of the spring Friday against the Royals. Cordero has arm problems last spring with the Rangers, so the Brewers have restricted his throwing. He threw an inning in a simulated game on Tuesday.

Take two: Ben Sheets will make his second start of the spring Thursday against the Giants and perhaps Barry Bonds.

Border battle: The Brewers will take on their I-94 rivals, the Cubs, Sunday in Mesa. They lost to the Cubbies Tuesday when the renowned Micah Hoffbauir homered in the bottom of the ninth. The Brewers and Cubs also will meet March 19 at Maryvale Baseball Park. That game will be televised. The game this Saturday against the D-Backs and the March 22 game against the Rockies also will be broadcast on FSN North and WMLW. Webcasts also are available of several games on the Brewers' Web site -- www.brewers.com.