Jordany

Valdespin

Valdespin was MVP of the independent Atlantic League last season, batting .338/.399/.487 with 12 homers and 30 steals over 113 games for the Long Island Ducks. He’s 31 and hasn’t played in the majors since 2015.

The 30-year-old slashed .338/.399/.487 with 12 homers, 55 RBI and 30 swipes in 113 games with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. He also played terrific defense at second base while leading the Ducks to the Championship Series. He has continued raking since going home to play in the Dominican Winter League (.339/.421/.402 in 34 games) and is hopeful for a return to the big leagues in 2019, where he hasn’t played since playing two games with the Marlins in 2015. He has probably shown enough to garner a non-roster invite somewhere this winter.

Valdespin posted a cool .310/.340/.452 batting line this spring in the Grapefruit League, but the Mets want him to get regular playing time and it wouldn’t have been available in New York. The 24-year-old is an impressive athlete and even got tested in center field this spring, so he could be up at some point this year as a utility player.

Valdespin is seeing time in the outfield because of the Mets’ injuries, but he was back at second base, his usual home, today. The 24-year-old entered camp with no real shot of making the team, but he could be kept as a bench player if multiple players start the year on the DL.

He and Jeremy Hefner swapped spots for the second game of Monday’s doubleheader. Valdespin was batting just .276/.321/.368 this season at Buffalo, but he’ll give some infield depth while Ronny Cedeno is out.

The 24-year-old was batting just .276/.321/.368 in 81 plate appearances this season at the Triple-A level, but he is a superb athlete and even saw some action in center field this spring in the Grapefruit League. Valdespin will act as a utilityman for the third-place Mets if he is indeed added to the active 25-man roster.

Jeremy Hefner, a right-hander, has also been called up for emergency purposes. Valdespin, 24, is batting just .276/.321/.368 this season at Triple-A Buffalo.

Valdespin, who was just recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday, took Jonathan Papelbon deep in the top of the ninth to put the Mets ahead. The 24-year-old figures to get a couple starts at shortstop filling in for the injured Ruben Tejada (quad), though Ronny Cedeno (intercostal strain) should get the bulk of the playing time when he returns from the disabled list. That could happen as soon as this weekend.

He’ll take the place of the injured Ruben Tejada (quad) on the active roster. Valdespin went 0-for-6 in his first stint with the Mets this season. He likely won’t play enough to warrant consideration in fantasy leagues.

Valdespin played the hero in Monday’s game, slugging a pinch-hit go-ahead three-run blast off Jonathan Papelbon for his first major league hit. The 24-year-old has shown an intriguing mix of pop and speed in the minors, but his playing time will likely be limited if Ronny Cedeno (intercostal strain) comes off the disabled list as expected this weekend.