MLB

Amazin’ things expected from young Mets shortstop

As the manager of the rookie-level Kingsport Mets in 2008, it didn’t take long for Pedro Lopez to realize the kind of talent then 16-year-old shortstop Wilmer Flores had.

“I told him it was a situation where, whether he wanted it or not or liked it or not, wherever he went people were going to look at him as that guy that the team was going to build around,” Lopez, now Flores’ manager with Low-A Savannah, said after a 2-1 win over Lakewood (N.J.) on Monday night. “In order for him to fit into that role, he needed to start doing it since that day. I’ll tell you what, I’ve been amazed with the way he’s carried himself, and I hope he keeps doing what he’s doing right now.”

What Flores is doing right now is tearing through the South Atlantic League. After hitting .264 with three home runs and 36 RBIs in 125 games with Savannah last year, he is hitting .343 with five home runs and 27 RBIs through Thursday night’s action.

“I’ve already played here, so I really know this league,” Flores said of his success this season. “I know the pitchers, what they’re throwing me. … I have more experience this year.”

In the past, the 18-year-old from Venezuela likely would have started this season at High-A St. Lucie. In previous years, under former vice president of player development Tony Bernazard, young players such as Flores and Savannah teammate 18-year-old Jefry Marte would be advanced each year and challenged.

But the Mets chose to send Flores, their second-best prospect according to Baseball America, back to Savannah this season, and have seen the results.

“It was just where we assigned them to go,” Mets farm director Adam Wogan said recently. “The same question could be asked of every guy in the system, but our feel was, based on their age, and based, more importantly, on their experience and abilities, that it was the right place for them.

“We’re fond of both players, and think they have things to continue to work on. Once they do that, once they demonstrate they are able to achieve some of the things they’re able to work on, then we will make the decision it’s time for a new level.”

Because he already is 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, many analysts have predicted Flores likely will have to stop playing shortstop as he gets older because he will grow out of the position. But Flores, who said his favorite player is another big shortstop, Derek Jeter, is hoping to stay at short for a long time to come.

“I love to play shortstop,” he said. “That’s my favorite position. I just need to work more on my defense and my footwork. I think that’s my weakness, so that’s what I’m working on right now.”

Down on the farm

Graham Stoneburner, Yankees
High-A Tampa

After allowing nine earned runs in 39 innings for Low-A Charleston, Stoneburner allowed two runs on two hits in six innings to win his High-A debut Thursday against Fort Myers.

Ruben Tejada, Mets
Triple-A Buffalo

After beginning the season with the Mets, Tejada hasn’t missed a beat since joining the Bisons. The 20-year-old is hitting .395 with a home run and six RBIs in 30 games with Buffalo.

Josh Satin, Mets
High-A St. Lucie

A sixth-round pick in the 2008 draft out of Cal, Satin is hitting .336 with three HRs and 20 RBIs in 32 games. Satin’s average is ninth-best in the Florida State League.

tbontemps@nypost.com