How far has Wilmer Flores come for the New York Mets?
Remember, a year ago, team insiders and talent evaluators doubted he could succeed at second base, let alone at shortstop on an everyday basis.
He started his professional career at shortstop, and has actually logged more innings at shortstop than at any other position. While he has said over time he feels most comfortable at shortstop, there was always internal doubt he could ever play there at this level.
But here he is passing the test the club set for him under conditions which were not ideal – a team expecting to contend in New York with iffy defense around him.
But he has successfully navigated those trials despite a rocky road earlier this year.
On Tuesday, he helped the Mets fight back from what would’ve been a deflating loss last night in the eighth inning with a mature approach in a well earned sacrifice fly after batting Ken Giles with second and third and one out.
“It was a fastball away, and I was able to drive it,” Flores said about his sac fly.
Then, in the tenth inning, Flores won the game again for the Mets with a game winning single, his second game winning RBI in as many days.
“I faced that guy before, and I was looking for a breaking ball,” Flores said about his game winner. “I got it up, he threw it, and I was ready for it.”
He has five RBI in this series, 13 RBI in the month of May, and has more home runs (seven) than any other shortstop in the game today. His 21 RBI is fourth most among big league shortstops, his 99 weighted runs created (wRC+) are the seventh most, and his .712 OPS is eighth highest.
Oh, and he hasn’t committed an error in his last 11 games at shortstop after committing nine over the team’s first 36.
“The thing that I’m happiest with him is that, ‘There were people who said, ‘He can’t do this. He cannot do this,’ ” Terry Collins told Steve Serby of the New York Post, “and this guy’s walked out there in the toughest market to play in, and handled himself very well.”
His trials at shortstop have been a test of his physical talent for sure, but as he was failing at the position for the first six weeks of the year, it was a test of character for the 23-year-old. In talking with him over that time period, the one thing which never wavered was his confidence, and remaining confident despite some very deep struggles and some embarrassing moments could very well be the key for him getting through those problems and becoming effective defensively.
His range will never be great. His foot speed won’t be great, either. But, he’s now making the routine plays and showing off his strong arm with confidence, and that’s really all they expect from him.
That along with his offense has made his play more than passable for the team. And if this continues to improve and evolve, a former problem suddenly could become a good solution.
“I’m right where I need to be,” Flores said about his progress.
It’s hard to disagree with that after this recent body of work.
To see Flores’ game winning single on Tuesday, watch this:
Just Mets 