Wilmer Flores Willing To Play 'Anywhere' To Stay In Lineup
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Wilmer Flores says he'll play "anywhere" as long as it keeps him in the New York Mets' lineup.
The rookie third baseman will eventually lose his position when captain David Wright returns from a hamstring injury. So what then? A move to the outfield?
"No, no, no," manager Terry Collins said Monday, according to the New York Times.
First base?
"We have too many guys there," Collins said, referring to Ike Davis and Josh Satin.
Flores has played shortstop, though that doesn't seem to be an option due to concerns about his lateral range. Collins said the 22-year-old would get a look at second base, perhaps during Daniel Murphy's next off day.
"You'd like to try to keep him in a comfort zone as best as you can," the manager said. "But I think it's important when he gets an opportunity to play second base here to see how he handles it, so we can have a better judgment of whether or not we think he can play the middle of the infield at the major league level."
Not everyone thinks he'll be a hit at second.
"(Flores) has got pretty good hands and he turns the double play fine, but his range is not good at all," one team evaluator told the New York Post. "Murphy has definitely got more range, and that's not saying a whole lot."
Flores, who twisted his ankle Monday but stayed in the game, just wants to be on the field, no matter the position.
"I'm just going to keep doing what I've been doing," he said. "I just want to play. I'll play anywhere."
Flores tied a Mets record with nine RBIs in his first six games. He went 1 for 4 without driving in a run in his seventh game, a 4-2 loss in Los Angeles.
Flores hasn't had an error since his major league debut last week, though the knock isn't exactly his glove -- it's whether he can get to the ball. Then again, he's earned his keep on offense. Doesn't he deserve a look at a position besides third?
"Every day has been great, even if I haven't gotten a hit," Flores said, according to the Times. "It's a pleasure to be here. It's an honor to be here. I used to watch these players on TV, and now I'm here."
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