CLEVELAND – When Alfonso Soriano was summoned to play shortstop while Derek Jeter is on the disabled list, it was believed the 22-year-old stud prospect would fare better defensively at his natural position after struggling when he filled in at third for Scott Brosius in early April.

Well, after three games, Soriano has made two errors, looked shaky on several other balls and hasn’t hit. In other words, the Yankees have their fingers firmly crossed that Jeter can return from a strained left abdominal muscle on Saturday, the first day he is eligible to come off the shelf.

“It’s tough coming to New York to play a different position,” was the way Joe Torre rationalized Soriano making four errors, all throwing, and hitting .154 in 10 games at third.

But Soriano, who is considered the Yankees’ top prospect, has made two errors – one throwing and one fielding – in three games. His fielding error on Omar Vizquel’s first-inning grounder yesterday led to an unearned run. And at the plate, Soriano is 2-for-12 (.167).

“He is aggressive and he is going to swing,” Torre said. “He hits the ball [to right] which is a good sign. It’s tough for him because a lot of these guys he hasn’t faced before. It’s tough to get a feel for how much their ball breaks.”

Soriano was the only Yankee who had faced Indian right-hander Paul Rigdon, who made his major-league debut yesterday and limited the Yankees to two hits and held them without a run in seven innings. Soriano saw Rigdon, pitching for Buffalo, on May 16 with Columbus.

“He was the same then as today,” Soriano said.

Jeter can’t get back quick enough. Yankee shortstops are hitting .143 (4-for-28) while he has been out.