It doesn't sound that hard and, to someone sitting in the stands, it doesn't look that hard.

Playing more than 100 baseball games in five months, that is.

But imagine you're going through it for the first time. And you're 19 years old, some 3,000 miles away from home. And, oh yeah, you're still learning a new position. Just making it through in one piece is an accomplishment.

"It's definitely a grind, a long season," said Danny Pertusati, who has been the regular second baseman for the Greensboro Grasshoppers. "It's tough, but it's nice being able to play every day. It's still living a dream, something you've dreamed since you were little. It's still a lot of fun."

Among the Hoppers' position players when the season began, Pertusati, catcher Kyle Skipworth and center fielder Isaac Galloway were the 19-year-olds. None of them has yet turned 20.

Galloway missed a month with an injured wrist and will probably play in 80 games by the end of the season. Skipworth, who was shut down earlier this month with a hyper-extended elbow, appeared in 70.

Pertusati, meanwhile, has played in 112 games, second on the team to Ben Lasater. It hasn't been easy, but he has pushed himself through the occasional fatigue to take his position nearly every day, missing just 17 of the Hoppers' 129 games so far.

"There's basic soreness from playing every day," he said. "You always play your hardest, so you always have those little things that hurt, whether it's a little cut or a bruise or anything. I say a prayer before every game to keep me safe.

"You've always got those aches and pains, but I'd say the toughest part is mental. Going (without a hit) one day and then having a game the next day, you've got to be able to leave that in the past and keep moving forward.

"I knew from the beginning it was going to be a long year, and as the year went on I knew I could play the full year and not have a problem with it."

In 2008, between his senior year in high school and time in the Gulf Coast League, Pertusati played in about 75 games, by far the most ever for him. This year, starting with about 20 games in spring training, he will almost double that by the time the season is done.

"You have some days when you wake up and you're more tired than usual," he said, "but  you find a way to get out here and just keep working and keep going and by game time you feel pretty good."

The parent Florida Marlins are pleased with Pertusati's progress. He's hitting .256, with three homers, 20 doubles, 31 RBIs and 56 runs scored. Not eye-popping stats, but steady. The Marlins like his swing and believe he'll be a good hitter for a higher average, and more power, as he moves up. 

"I've always felt comfortable with my hitting," Pertusati said, "I feel like that's the primary reason I got drafted. This year I'm learning to use all parts of the field and to be selective with pitches and taking it one at-bat at a time and not worrying about the last at-bat.

"It's below where I wanted to hit, but it is my first full season. I'm not bummed about it, I wish I could have hit higher average but I still feel pretty good about everything. You can go 0-for-4 with four hard-hit balls and in my book that's still a good day."

Manager Darin Everson said Pertusati always gives the team a good at-bat.

"He's very confident, doesn't get down when he's got two strikes and he's a kid that battles," Everson said. "The thing he's learning to do now is put that barrel on the ball all the time, and that's a tough thing for young hitters to get used to. You can swing an aluminum bat and no matter where (on the bat) you hit it's going to go somewhere. You've got to put that barrel on it to make it travel here."

The biggest thing the Marlins have asked Pertusati to do is change positions. He was an outfielder his senior year in high school in Ontario, Calif., but the team had other ideas for him when they drafted him in the 13^th round in 2008.

"Our scouts saw him play shortstop the year before," said Jim Fleming, the Marlins' director of player development. "We knew he was a good athlete and we were confident he could play the outfield if second base didn't work. He's doing fine, he's coming along and has made a ton of progress defensively."

Everson said the difference in Pertusati's defense "is like night and day" from early in spring training until now.

"He's more relaxed and acclimated to the position," Everson said. "He's got more looseness and freedom in his body. He's not as rigid when he goes to field the ball. When you're loose and free it allows your natural athletic ability to take over and that's happening."

Pertusati said he didn't mind switching positions.

"As long as I was able to play, that's all I really cared," he said. "They could throw me wherever they wanted."

He began to learn second base in the GCL and continued his education this season. The toughest skill to learn, he said, has been reading the ball off the bat. A grounder hit by left-handed hitters tails away to his backhand and one hit by right-handers tails to the other side. He has to make the read quickly, scoop up the ball and get off a good throw.

Then there's the double play, standing in at second base to take a throw from the shortstop or third baseman and pivoting to make an accurate throw to first while a runner is bearing down on him.

"It's just staying in there as long as you can, and then getting the throw off and getting out of the way before the person sliding in there can take you out," he explained. "You practice your foot speed and getting your release as quickly as you can. You don't really practice with someone coming at you. You hope that all that practice works out when you get in a game.

"I feel a lot more comfortable with it. I know I'm getting better at turning double plays. There's always room for improvement, but I feel like I'm getting better every game I play."

Pertusati played baseball most of his young life. He also played football in high school and was a starting quarterback and free safety as a senior. But he determined baseball could take him to the college or pro level. When he was drafted, there wasn't much doubt he would sign.

"I wasn't a real high pick," he said, "but it has been my dream to play professional baseball since I was really young. So when I had the opportunity and the numbers worked out, it was a decision I wanted to make and I couldn't be happier with it. It was my goal."

The Marlins have pushed Pertusati this year, skipping him over the New York-Penn League by putting him in Greensboro. Each day has been filled with early work, done hours before a game, and then playing a game. Long bus rides on road trips have added to the routine.

"He's a good player and has played almost every day in the Sally League and has done, we think, a great job," Fleming said. "Everything is getting better - his defense, his swing, everything is coming along. It wears on him, it's a tough year, but we're real pleased with his performance and where he's at.

"The everyday grind is difficult for anybody who's never played, even college kids, if it's your first season of 140 games. You have to grind, it's a workout and a game every day and it's not easy, especially when he's still growing. You wear down and grown men in the big leagues have trouble. It's a challenge."

Pertusati has persevered and would like to finish strong in the final 10 games of the season and meet some goals he set. His biggest one is to be promoted in 2010 and keep moving up every year.

If nothing else, this season has prepared him for long seasons in the future. And one thing remains the same.

"You have your rough times when you're struggling that can take some of the fun away," Pertusati said, "but you get to wake up and play baseball every day, so it's a great job."

Bill Hass has watched and covered minor league baseball in Greensboro since 1979.Contact him at billonbaseball@gmail.com