PITTSBURGH — Ruben Tejada had better stay healthy.
With the Mets valuing another bat off the bench over another middle infielder, Eric Campbell has become the team’s backup shortstop.
Campbell has extensive experience playing the corner infield and outfield positions, but is considered only an emergency shortstop.
The rookie was thrust into the role after the decision was reached Wednesday to option Wilmer Flores to Triple-A Las Vegas, where he could play on a regular basis. Instead of promoting an untested infielder, team brass decided to stick with outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis’ bat off the bench.
Flores, a rookie, had become stale with the Mets, according to manager Terry Collins.
“We all like Wilmer a lot and he proved he can play shortstop in the major leagues here,” Collins said before Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Pirates. “But for him to be the player we all expect him to be, he’s got to play, he’s got to be in the lineup. He’s not getting a chance [here] to be in the lineup.”
Flores is expected to play shortstop and second base for Las Vegas.
Juan Lagares returned to the Mets after his second disabled-list stint of the season and finished 1-for-4 with a single.
Dillon Gee is scheduled to make his second minor league rehab start, on Sunday for Single-A Brooklyn.
The right-hander, who has been on the disabled list since May 14 with a strained right lat, will likely need an additional rehab start after Sunday before rejoining the Mets, according to pitching coach Dan Warthen.
Chris Young hit two homers against Oakland on Tuesday and followed that with another blast on Wednesday. His reward was finding his name excluded from the starting lineup on Thursday.
With Lagares back from the DL and Collins feeling that Bobby Abreu needed a start to stay sharp, Young was squeezed out. It’s a reality Young could be facing as essentially the team’s fifth outfielder.
“I will try to make the best of it that I can,” Young said. “But it does make it tougher to stay in your groove. That’s how you stay consistent.”
Young went 0-for-1 in a pinch-hitting role.