New York Mets: Ruben Tejada earns starting third base job

The injury to David Wright hurt the New York Mets greatly, as they were counting on him to be their leader.

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Wright has only played in eight games this season for the Mets, as originally he went on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. While rehabbing the hamstring injury, Wright experienced pain in his back, and has now been diagnosed with spinal stenosis. There is no timetable for Wright’s return, and it has left the Mets reeling to find answers at third base.

After trying a lot other options, Terry Collins has given the chance to Ruben Tejada. After Jose Reyes left in free agency, Tejada was expected to become the Mets’ everyday shortstop. Tejada’s inability to hit led to Wilmer Flores becoming the Mets’ shortstop.

With his struggles, Tejada was Collins’ last option at third base, but he may be Collins’ best option.

In the Mets’ series against the Miami Marlins, Tejada started at third base in all three games, and hit very well. In the series, Tejada went 5-for-12 at the plate with two doubles and four RBIs. His biggest hit came on Sunday, as he delivered the game-winner to help the Mets avoid a sweep.

After the great series, Collins has named Tejada the starting third baseman until Wright returns.

“He’s earned it, and as we all know he can do a lot of things when he’s playing well, and right now he’s playing well,” Collins said to Zach Braziller of the New York Post. “I’m really pleased. To have [Tejada] step up and come through in a big way this series, even though we only won one game, is real promising because we need somebody to step in and give us some offense.”

Chances to be a starting player don’t come around very often, and Tejada is happy that he’s getting the chance to be a starter again.

“It’s good when they come to you,” Tejada said after making his third consecutive start at third base. “To get a big opportunity to play, it’s really good.”

Three games is an extremely small sample size, but for Tejada he needed to impress quickly with his history of struggling as a hitter. This season, Tejada is now hitting .246 with one homerun and eight RBI. The series against the Marlins skyrocketed his average up 46 points, as he was hitting just .200 coming into the series.

Tejada will provide the Mets a solid glove at third base, but the Mets will need him to continue to hit the baseball if he wants to keep the job.

Next: Where do the Mets rank in our MLB Power Rankings?

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