In a recent Newsday report, Mark Carig applauded Wilmer Flores’ work ethic claiming the 23-year old infielder has only allowed himself two weeks away from baseball this offseason. As he prepares to take the reins as the Mets’ everyday shortstop in 2015, Flores has done all that he could to prove the doubters wrong.
A crowed offseason schedule saw Flores first playing Winter Ball in the Venezuelan League immediately after the regular season ended, and then arriving without delay in Florida to take part in the Mets voluntary conditioning program run by Mike Barwis. This marks the second straight offseason Flores has participated in the rigorous workout routine.
For his part, Flores has chosen to block out the storm of controversy surrounding who will play shortstop in the upcoming season. Instead, Flores has stayed focused on a preparation program aimed at assuring he is ready to meet the challenge in successfully manning a key position in the Met infield.
“You hear people talking all the time. Is this guy going to be a shortstop? Can he play shortstop? Can he not? You know what? I can’t listen to that. I want to play the way I’ve been playing. I’m not going to say I don’t hear things. But I try not to because I know what I can do, man. Honestly, I know what I can do.”
Preparation drives performance. The young Met shortstop and former top prospect seems to clearly understand that maxim. The upcoming season presents Flores with an opportunity that has been a long time in coming and the headstrong and dedicated infielder is determined to do everything in his power to make sure it pays off.
“I’m trying to do what I can,” Flores told Craig. “I’m working hard. I’m working really hard. At the end of the day, if things don’t go well, you know what? I did my best. There’s nothing else I can do but work hard and try to get better.”
Met fans have clamored all Winter over the issue of who will play shortstop – almost using that question as a litmus test to gauge the team’s commitment to a winning season. Through it all, Wilmer Flores has demonstrated a mature attitude backed up by an iron-willed work ethic.
It’s time for all Met to fans to pull together, get behind this kid, and embrace Wilmer Flores as our shortstop.
