Hawai'i second baseman Jon Hee is like insurance. And it's not just because he can play other infield positions.

Like a particular insurer's theme, the Rainbows are in good hands with Hee on the field. That's because he makes fielding look so easy a caveman could do it. But that's enough plugs, unless you're talking about the holes Hee covers with his glove.

"You have guys that can be above average fielders and then you have guys that can be special defensively," UH coach Mike Trapasso said of the third-year Rainbow. "And we knew Jon was going to be one of those guys just by looking at his hands."

Hee plays what is considered one of the more demanding positions on the team because of the number plays the second baseman is involved in. While the first baseman and catcher rack up total chances by default, the middle infielders handle more plays by going after the ball, whether it's hit on the ground or popped up. The 6-foot, 170-pound junior has had 101 total chances to date or about 4.6 per game, yet has been charged with only two errors. He didn't commit his first error until his 19th game into the season.

"He's just gifted," Trapasso said. "He works just as hard as the next guy. It's nothing that he does extra. He's gifted with tremendous hands, has a great demeanor, a great toughness about him."

Hee said he learned about fielding when he was attending Mid-Pacific Institute under Dunn Muramaru.

"I never really started understanding how to play defense until high school with Coach Dunn," Hee said. "He really taught me how to play defense."

Hee started attending MPI since seventh grade. He was a shortstop in intermediate ball in eighth grade, played second base during his junior varsity years and then played third base on the varsity his junior year. His senior year he played both corner infield positions. He earned Advertiser all-state first-team honors at third base as a senior.

After red-shirting his freshman year, he was a reserve infielder the next. Last season was his first as a regular, playing at third and second base. He batted .283, scoring 40 runs, third-highest on the team. He was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference second team.

Hee said the transition from playing mostly third base in high school to playing second base in college wasn't that dramatic. He also got help from Mid-Pac alumnus Isaac Omura, a pretty good second baseman himself when he played for the Rainbows from 2003 to 2005. Omura was drafted and signed by the Oakland Athletics in 2005.

"Isaac was still there when I was practicing at second a little bit," the speech pathology major said. "He taught me a lot."

Hee's season was stalled in the season opener when he subluxed his left shoulder after diving for a ground ball against Santa Clara. It was a similar injury he sustained last season. He missed eight games because of the injury, but hasn't missed a beat with the bat or glove since returning.

Since last season, Hee has been the perfect two-hole hitter in the lineup. His ability to make contact — his seven strikeouts are the fewest among the starters — makes him perfect for batting second. But lately, Hee has been UH's lead-off hitter with Derek DuPree batting second.

"We're still a work in progress," Trapasso said of the lead-off spot. "They're both comfortable with it. We did the move as much for Derek going to the two hole, where he is more comfortable. We don't have a true lead-off guy, per se."

Being the consummate player he is, Hee hasn't been fazed by the change. Since leading off six games ago, he is batting .360, compared to .322 in other parts of the order.

Hee's high school coach isn't surprised at Hee's success.

"He understood the game," Muramaru said of when Hee played for him. "He was a real intelligent baseball player ... He did all the right things. You never had to worry about him executing. You could always count on him to hit-and-run, sacrifice, that kind of stuff. He's not your athlete-type player, but he was someone you could count on."

Just like good insurance.

NOTES

Hawai'i leads Western Athletic Conference teams in earned run average. The Rainbows' 2.72 ERA is significantly below the league average of 5.02, which is the exact team ERA of San Jose State, UH's opponent this weekend. Four UH pitchers are among the top nine in ERA, led by Matt Daly's league-leading 2.23.

The Spartans lead all WAC teams with a .976 fielding percentage.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.