KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Ruben Tejada may have won the Mets’ starting shortstop job by default, but it still is a win.
“But it’s a long year and you have to keep working hard every day,” said Tejada, who is slated for the Mets’ Opening Day lineup against the Nationals on Monday.
Tejada is hitting just .205 with a .279 on-base percentage this spring. But any lingering doubt about the job was removed on Tuesday, when the Mets optioned Wilmer Flores to minor league camp.
Though the Mets have monitored free-agent Stephen Drew and trade options such as Seattle’s Nick Franklin and Arizona’s Didi Gregorius, no deal is imminent, according to club sources.
Tejada has at least improved toward the end of camp. He is 6-for-15 (.400) since March 16 and hasn’t added to his errors total. Tejada had four errors over the first 2 ¹/₂ weeks of Grapefruit League action.
Tejada said he has boosted his lower-body strength since the start of camp, allowing him to make more plays.
“The first step to the ball I think is much better now,” Tejada said. “And I’m working on those situations and using my legs the whole time and trying to read the ball much better.”
Jon Niese is scheduled to pitch a minor league game on Thursday. The lefty last pitched on March 16 against the Cardinals, when he left with elbow discomfort. If Niese gets through Thursday without a setback, he will be on course to make another minor league start on Tuesday, which would put him in position for an April 6 return to the Mets.
If Niese has a setback, the Mets likely would use Daisuke Matsuzaka or Jenrry Mejia in his place. One would be the starter on April 4 and the other would replace Niese.
Daniel Murphy batted leadoff against the Astros on Thursday, but manager Terry Collins said the move wasn’t an experiment, but merely a case of wanting to get the second baseman as many at-bats as possible before removing him from the game.
Cory Mazzoni will be recalled from minor league camp to start Thursday’s home exhibition finale for the Mets. The team will fly to Montreal after the game and face the Blue Jays in exhibitions on Friday and Saturday.