Via ESPN’s Adam Rubin, Mets GM Sandy Alderson said that Wilmer Flores will likely be his team’s starting shortstop on Opening Day. This would mean Ruben Tejada would be relegated to a back-up role after serving as the starting shortstop last season.
Flores, 23, hit .251/.286/.378 with six home runs and 29 RBI in 274 plate appearances in 2014. Flores neither gets on base nor plays defense as well as Tejada, but he has shown considerably more power -- Flores posted a slugging percentage 68 points higher than Tejada during the regular season.
Of course, the Mets could also upgrade at shortstop via free agency or a trade, but for now, Flores should see some regular playing time. Flores was considered a top-100 prospect in all of baseball from 2009-11 as well as prior to the start of the 2014 season according to Baseball Prospectus.
