Anderson

Hernandez

Hernandez hit .350 with five steals in five attempts in 11 games on his rehab assignment with Norfolk. If he keeps it up, it probably won’t be long before the Mets give him another opportunity.

He will also get a spring training invite. Hernandez, 29, spent last season in the Astros’ minor league system and has an ugly .241/.300/.314 batting line over 703 plate appearances in the majors. Look for him to serve as organizational depth.

Hernandez, a career minor leaguer, was the defensive player of the year in the International League. He’ll look to make the Pirates as a utilityman in spring training.

It looked like Hernandez wouldn’t get a September callup, but Kaz Matsui’s hamstring injury changed that. Hernandez should take a lot of playing time away from Miguel Cairo if Matsui doesn’t return. He cooled off after a fast start in Triple-A, but the Mets might as well see what they have in the 22-year-old.

He flied out with the bases loaded in the eighth and left five men on in total. Hernandez should continue to see time at second base with Kaz Matsui sidelined.

He also stole his second base yesterday. The Mets probably aren’t going to want to enter 2006 with Hernandez as their second baseman, but he could be a candidate to step it at either second or short if injuries continue to be a problem.

Hernandez had just been recalled Sunday as a replacement for Damion Easley on the roster.

Hernandez’s pinch-hit single in the first game of the doubleheader didn’t save him. He had two at-bats in a week with the Mets.

Hernandez ended up hitting .301 for New Orleans, but that came with a 736 OPS. The Mets shouldn’t give him any starts at second base.

The 24-year-old Hernandez was hitting .280/.321/.376 in 415 at-bats in the PCL. He should no longer be a part of the Mets’ long-term plans, but he can serve as a backup infielder with Jose Valentin out.