MILWAUKEE — Ruben Tejada is officially demoted to the minors.
The Mets announced during last night’s 7-6 loss to the Brewers that Tejada has completed his rehab assignment and been optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas.
The shortstop was placed on the disabled list on May 30 with strained right quadriceps and began playing rehab games in the minors last weekend. But manager Terry Collins said Tejada would have to earn his way back to the Mets. At the time of his injury, Tejada was batting .209 and had been told he was close to receiving a demotion to Las Vegas.
Omar Quintanilla continues to impress team brass with his solid play. Quintanilla went 2-for-4 last night and is batting .256 with a .326 on-base percentage since his arrival to replace Tejada.
* After months of filling out his outfield by almost process of elimination, Collins is finding it difficult to settle on three players these days.
The consistent play of Eric Young Jr. and Marlon Byrd on the corners added to big recent contributions by Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Juan Lagares and Andrew Brown has made it interesting for Collins.
”You can only play nine guys and yeah, it’s been tough,” Collins said before the Mets’ 7-6 loss to the Brewers last night.
Nieuwenhuis went 4-for-4 with two walks and five RBIs in the Mets’ 12-5 victory over the Brewers on Friday and earned the center field start last night. He went 1-for-5. Nieuwenhuis became the first Mets player since Mike Piazza on May 27, 2000 to reach base six times in a nine-inning game.
”It’s a good position to be in,” Collins said of his outfield options. “I’ve got to get Josh Satin in there some time in the next couple of days because he deserves it. I don’t know where I’m going to get him yet, but he deserves to be in there.”
* Collins originally had Anthony Recker in last night’s lineup, but switched to John Buck because starting pitcher Shaun Marcum expressed a preference for the veteran. Recker will start behind the plate today instead.
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