PORT ST. LUCIE — Wilmer Flores zipped into work Tuesday in quite the sports car, an Alfa Romeo.
New relief pitcher Antonio Bastardo admiringly checked out the incredible vehicle.
This was yet another example of Mets teamwork on display.
When someone complimented Flores on his ride, Flores laughed and said: “Oh that’s not my car. That’s [Yoenis] Cespedes’ car. He’s letting me use it.’’
How fast Wilmer Flores arrives at work these days for Mets pre-camp workouts doesn’t really matter. The important thing is that Flores is here and remains a Met even though his job description was overhauled once again with the signing of free-agent shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. The Mets also have a new second baseman in Neil Walker, another position Flores played last season.
While he is no longer the Mets shortstop — Flores, 24, will be a backup at all four infield positions — his position remains basically the same.
“I want to be a Met forever,’’ Flores told The Post.
It nearly was seven months ago that a crying Flores won over Mets fans forever. Thinking he had been traded to the Brewers — like everyone at Citi Field — tears of sadness flowed down Flores’ cheeks at shortstop.
Flores showed there is crying in baseball and that it is a good thing. He showed that it was OK to wear your heart on your sleeve. The trade collapsed and the Mets wound up with Cespedes instead of Carlos Gomez, and Flores ends up driving Cespedes’ high-performance vehicle to work.
Funny how it all worked out.
Flores said he gets goose bumps remembering how Mets fans cheered him and chanted his name in that 7-3 loss to the Padres on July 29.
This game is overrun by cold, hard numbers, but Flores showed baseball remains a game with a beating heart.
It was a wonderful reminder to fans, media and players that there are ties that bind in baseball. Sure it’s a business, but it’s a game, too.
“I will never forget that night,’’ Flores said. “To hear my name chanted out there, that was unbelievable. My mom came up in August for my birthday and went to games in Miami and Tampa and she was shocked, everybody was cheering my name.’’
Flores got hit by a pitch in the left ankle in winterball in Venezuela and suffered a fracture. He said he’s all healed now.
“One hundred percent,’’ he said.
Everything happened to Flores this past year.
“What I learned is that New York has a lot of love,’’ Flores said. “They are real fans. The love that I feel from the fans is amazing. It makes you feel at home. It makes you feel like you belong here.’’
He hears about that love on a daily basis.
“The fans tell me they want me to be a Met forever,’’ Flores said. “Playing baseball somewhere else would be tough.’’
Changes continue. Flores said he was “a little surprised’’ the Mets acquired a shortstop but also understands he has “some limits at short. It’s a good thing I know how to play all four positions. This makes the team better.’’
Here is how he practices for his multi-position gig.
“Every day I will work one position and work the whole day there,” Flores said. “Today I worked at third base. One day at third. One day at second. One day at short. One day at first.’’
The uniform remains the same and that is the bottom line. He’s been a Met since he was 16.
“I want to accept this role. I have to accept this role,’’ Flores said. “When I play, I’m going to play like I am an everyday player. This is all I know. I love this organization. They’ve given me everything I needed.
“This team cares about each other, this is really one team and it starts with David Wright. He’s the leader, the captain, and he makes you feel a part of this team. We’re going to work harder than ever to get back to the World Series.’’
This is his baseball life.
“I’m very proud to be a Met,’’ Flores said. “If it ever happens again, if I get traded, I will be sad. I will probably cry again.
“But hopefully not on the field.’’