Since being sent back to Triple A Las Vegas, Wilmer Flores has been on a fire with a 21 game hit streak. In that span is is hitting .365, with seven home runs and 29 RBIs.
Terry Collins told beat writers on Sunday that a promotion back to the Mets isn’t likely anytime in the near future.
“I don’t want to bring young guys up here and have them sit on the bench, I just don’t think it’s good for their development,” said Collins.
When Flores was promoted to the Mets on May 9th, it was for the hope that he would play shortstop, but playing time was limited as Ruben Tejada started to hit.
In his time with the Mets from May 9th through June 25th, Flores appeared in 24 games and batted .236 (8 for 36), while Tejada played in 35 games and batted .273 (29 for 106) in the same time frame.
Flores’ recent success in Vegas could force the Mets to promote him again, but Collins knows sitting him would not be an option.
“If Wilmer Flores comes, I think he’s going to have to play someplace, because I don’t think he gets anything out of sitting on the bench playing once a week,” said the skipper.
Collins added, “If he was going to be the future utility player down the road, OK, maybe. But this guy’s bat potential is so good, there’s nothing wrong with going and having a big year in Triple-A.”
And even though Collins has a clue as to what would happen if Flores does come back to the Mets, the skipper also knows that Sandy Alderson has the final call on that decision.
“I’m not watching Vegas numbers all that closely,” Collins said. “I got enough on my plate here. If Sandy thinks he wants to make a change, he watches those numbers pretty tight.”
