MLB

Mets say Ruben Tejada shaping up at boot camp

The Mets believe an offseason boot camp is the boot in the backside shortstop Ruben Tejada needs to get going in 2014.

Tejada, who struggled mightily last season when he was out of shape, has turned the corner physically and emotionally, the Mets say, pointing to Tejada’s participation in an off-season strength, conditioning and nutrition program based in Michigan.

Tejada attended the camp, run by a former University of Michigan trainer, in November and is back there now with several other Mets, including Lucas Duda, in the hopes he will be ready to physically handle the challenge of being an everyday major league shortstop.

“He went up there in November and he’s back up there now, so we are very pleased that he is taking this offseason seriously,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told The Post. “It’s one of the reasons we have greater confidence that he can handle that position as a regular, so we’ll see.”

Alderson, COO Jeff Wilpon and assistant GM John Ricco traveled to Michigan on Thursday to check on Tejada’s progress.

At this point, the Mets appear to have little interest in signing free agent Stephen Drew, willing to roll the dice on a rebound from Tejada. Last season, Tejada came to camp out of shape and produced a dreadful season during which he was demoted to the minors to try to get his act together. He was called back up in September, only to suffer a broken leg that finished his season.

Tejada was in such poor shape last spring training that one teammate referred to him as “a little pork chop.” He batted .202 over 57 games with a dreadful .259 on-base percentage. That followed a 2012 campaign in which Tejada batted .289 in a career-high 114 games after taking over shortstop from Jose Reyes.

“Tejada is capable,” Alderson said. “We’re always looking to improve. We will be happy going into spring training with Ruben penciled in as being our starting shortstop. We are always looking to upgrade the team, and at this time of year, it’s possible that could be done in a variety of ways and we’ll just have to see.”

Asked directly whether Drew remains a possibility, Alderson answered: “Any free agent is a legitimate possibility until he signs. By that definition, yes.”

Sounds like a no.

Tejada is being given another chance and getting in shape is the first step. Tejada’s work ethic has been questioned by Alderson in the past, but the Mets now are hoping Tejada changes for the better.

“He’s grown up,” said one Mets official. “Don’t forget, he’s only 24.”