The Mets long-term shortstop job is Ruben Tejada’s to lose.
Yup, the same Ruben Tejada who views doing extra work as a chore akin to pulling teeth through the back of the neck, according to general manager Sandy Alderson.
“Every GM tries to push you, his players to work hard to try to get better every day,” said Tejada, recalled Tuesday from Triple A by the Mets. He did not play in the Mets’ 6-3 loss to the Nationals Tuesday night at Citi Field. “I know I work hard. That’s why I come here every day, it’s my job and I don’t come here to do anything bad.”
Nevertheless, Alderson in a recent radio interview stressed how hard it has been to get Tejada to go the extra mile — or yard — most players routinely travel.
“The past is past,” said Tejada, optioned to Las Vegas July 7 after returning from the disabled list for a right quadriceps strain. “I’m here to keep going forward, keep doing my job and keep working hard. I work hard every day to try to help whenever I go in.”
But manager Terry Collins views Tejada, who hit .209 in 50 games with the Mets earlier this season, as the shortstop of the future.
“I don’t know why not. Everybody’s allowed to have a bad year,” Collins said. “Right now I just want Ruben to understand that job is his for the taking. Go get it, go grab it and don’t lose it. But there’s some things that have got to be done to keep it.
“Hopefully he rededicates himself to saying I’m going to be the guy. You don’t have to look any farther. I’m here,” Collins said.
Bobby Parnell underwent surgery Tuesday in California to repair a herniated disc in his neck. Alderson, asked if Parnell will be ready for spring training, said, “We expect him to be.”
Scott Rice underwent surgery in Philadelphia to repair bilateral sports hernias.
The Mets lost for the seventh time in nine games plus the eighth time in 10 games at home. … Jordan Zimmerman got his first win over the Mets in five starts this season. … Travis d’Arnaud broke an 0-of-14 slump with a single in fourth.
Wilmer Flores still is nursing a bum ankle.
“It’s going to take a while,” Collins said. “His lower body in his swing is pretty much gone right now because he has a tough time pivoting.”
Collins also said he is confident Flores is part of the future.
“His bat is going to play,” he said. “His bat is going to play big.”
The Mets will open 2014 at home against Washington on March 31. They’ll play two exhibition games against the Blue Jays in Montreal March 28 and 29.