WASHINGTON — Wilmer Flores had an uneventful spring — and that was music to the Mets’ ears.
With questions swirling all winter whether he could handle shortstop on a regular basis, Flores made most of the routine plays and certainly didn’t embarrass himself at the position.
He also had a .266/.304/.453 slash line with two homers and nine RBIs in 64 at-bats in the exhibition season. Flores will be on the field Monday at Nationals Park as the team’s Opening Day shortstop, a fact that would have seemed almost inconceivable a year ago.
But with Ruben Tejada barely treading water to remain with the club and no palatable external options on the free-agent and trade markets, team brass has ceded the job to Flores, who most scouts agree is better suited at a corner-infield spot.
“I know I can do the job,” Flores said. “The main thing was showing them I can do it.”
If Flores ultimately can’t handle the demands of the position, Matt Reynolds — who will begin the season at Triple-A Las Vegas — has emerged as a possible alternative following a big spring.
But for now, the club remains optimistic about Flores’ potential.
“I have seen a lot of improvement,” said infield coach Tim Teufel. “I see a guy who is getting good jumps on balls, he is getting to balls. He still has some things to improve upon, but most of camp I have been real happy with his progress.”
Flores has gotten to know hitters’ tendencies, according to Teufel, and that has helped him with positioning. Also, Flores has come to understand the preferences of his own pitchers.
“It increases your instincts just knowing what pitch is coming and who the hitter is,” Teufel said. “All of a sudden he is getting good jumps on balls. Those are important things to look at with a shortstop.”
Flores, who has spent parts of the last two seasons with the Mets, is looking forward to his first opener on a major league roster.
“They gave me the opportunity to play and I did what I had to,” Flores said. “Opening Day is going to be special and it’s going to be an exciting season.”