PORT ST. LUCIE — Matt Reynolds has wasted little time getting noticed this spring.
The 24-year-old shortstop had a huge 2014 season split between two stops in the Mets farm system and is now looking to make the final leap.
“He’s probably not that far away from playing in the major leagues,” general manager Sandy Alderson said Saturday, a day after Reynolds hit a ninth-inning walkoff homer against the Tigers. “He looks solid, confident in the infield, so he’s done a nice job.”
Reynolds had a .333/.385/.479 slash line with five homers and 40 RBIs in 267 at-bats last year at Triple-A Las Vegas after a midseason promotion from Double-A Binghamton.
The Mets are expected to begin the season with Wilmer Flores at shortstop, but Reynolds would like to make the decision difficult. Ruben Tejada is the other shortstop in camp.
“I came in here with the attitude I’m going to compete my [butt] off to try to win the job,” Reynolds said. “I am just going to come here and compete every day, and by me competing I’m making Flo’ better, I’m making Tejada better and vice versa. By us competing together it makes us stronger and better players.”
Reynolds, who was the Mets’ second-round pick in the 2012 draft, is invariably referred to as a “baseball player” by scouts and executives because of his grittiness and attention to detail.
Alderson was asked if Reynolds could make the team without a starting job.
“People try to pigeon-hole players as utility guys, and that’s not fair,” Alderson said. “We’re going to let it play out and see what happens. We’re happy to have him. He’s a nice player.”
Reynolds said he almost can taste the major leagues, but also said he realizes there is a gap to bridge.
“It’s a lot of motivation for me to come here, get here early, work hard and stay late and keep on working,” he said. “I see how David [Wright] works and [Curtis] Granderson works and all those guys — [Daniel] Murphy — they work really hard and that is why they are great players in the game. Hopefully someday I have some of their talents and can have that kind of career in the big leagues.”