Wilmer Flores

Lore & Background

Flores was born on August 6, 1991, in Valencia, Venezuela, to Soledy García and Wilmer Flores. He has three brothers and two sisters. His family nicknamed him "Catire" due to his blonde hair as a baby. He first picked up a bat at age 6 and taught himself how to swing. After he turned 13, an agent steered him toward the Agua Linda Academy, where he received formal instruction for the first time. He has two brothers also named Wilmer Flores, one of whom is a pitcher in the Detroit Tigers organization. Flores signed as an international free agent with the New York Mets on August 6, 2007, his 16th birthday. With his $750,000 signing bonus, he bought his mother a new Hyundai Sonata he did not know how to drive. He made his major-league debut with the Mets in 2013.

In Their Own Story

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the diamond at Oracle Park as the Giants faced a jam in the seventh inning. With starters fatigued, the manager turned to Wilmer Flores. He trotted out of the dugout, glove already in hand, ready to shift from third base to second without missing a beat. The crowd murmured appreciatively; they knew that when 'Flores' was announced, the defense was about to tighten up instantly.

Reader's Guide

Flores played for the New York Mets from 2013 through 2018. He also played for the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants, though the source does not specify the years of his tenure with those teams. He currently plays for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. The source does not describe his defensive versatility beyond listing positions he played in the minors and majors (shortstop, third base, second base, first base) and does not mention outfield play.

Did You Know?

• Flores signed with the New York Mets on his 16th birthday in 2007.
• He was named MVP of the 2012 Florida State League All-Star Game after going 3-for-4 with a run and three RBI.
• Flores hit his first career grand slam on June 2, 2014, against the Philadelphia Phillies.
• On July 29, 2015, rumors spread that Flores had been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, but the trade fell through due to a medical concern about Carlos Gómez.
• Flores hit his first career walk-off home run on July 31, 2015, against the Washington Nationals.