NEW YORK -- Looking to help their struggling offense, the New York Mets plan to recall shortstop Wilmer Flores from Triple-A Las Vegas before Friday night's game against Philadelphia.
The team said backup shortstop Omar Quintanilla will be designated for assignment to make room for the 22-year-old Flores, who was batting .307 with five homers and 25 RBIs for the 51s.
Shut out in the final 23 innings of a three-game sweep by Miami this week, the Mets began Thursday ranked 14th out of 15 NL teams in slugging percentage (.332) and home runs (20). They have received meager production at shortstop from starter Ruben Tejada, hitting .183 with two extra-base hits and 21 strikeouts in 82 at-bats.
Quintanilla batted .207 with one extra-base hit in 29 at-bats.
Flores was signed as a shortstop but shifted to other infield spots as he climbed through the minors. Despite a suspect glove, New York moved him back to shortstop this season, aware the position was a major question mark.
He has committed seven errors in 25 games at shortstop with Las Vegas this year.
Flores batted .211 with a homer and 13 RBIs in 27 games for the Mets last season, playing mostly at third base when David Wright was injured.