Coming into this season, 26-year old righty swinging infielder Justin Turner played in 21 games in his first two years in the majors and he was 4 for 35 (.114 avg, .368 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 0 homers and 3 RBIs. Turner was needed to play quite a bit this year for the Mets due to injuries all over the infield and he has done a good job. Turner has played in 107 games for the Mets so far this year and he is 110 for 411 (.268 avg, .697 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 4 homers, 49 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. It looks like Turner has found a new home with the New York Mets.

Injuries and deals have opened up P.T. for some of the younger players on the Mets’ roster, and they have responded well so far. 21-year old righty swinging Ruben Tejada has taken over at 2B for the Mets. He has played in 76 games for the Mets so far this year and he is 70 for 249 (.281 avg, .703 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 0 homers, 26 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Tejada might get a shot to start in 2012 for the Mets at SS (if Jose Reyes leaves as a free agent) or 2B (if Reyes re-signs). 25-year old lefty swinging RF/1B Lucas Duda has been swinging a potent bat since Carlos Beltran was dealt to the Giants. He has played in 85 games for the Mets so far this year and he is 70 for 249 (.281 avg, .830 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 9 homers, 45 RBIs and 1 stolen base. 25-year old righty swinging 1B/OF Nick Evans has also played well for the Mets so far this year. He has played in 38 games for the Mets so far this year and he is 27 for 92 (.293 avg, .893 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 4 homers and 17 RBIs. There is no reason to think this trio won’t continue to get a lot of P.T. the rest of the year, and the Mets hope that all of them finish strongly.

30-year old switch-hitting CF Angel Pagan looked like he was sleepwalking in the first four months of the 2011 season. But, he woke up big time in August for the Mets. He has played in 23 games for the Mets so far in August and he is 34 for 99 (.343 avg, .884 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 3 homers, 9 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Pagan has now played in 101 games overall this year and he is 104 for 396 (.263 avg, .702 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 7 homers, 47 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. Pagan will likely have to finish the season strongly if he’s going to want to remain a starter for the Mets in 2012.

25-year old lefty swinging OF/1B Lucas Duda came into this season as the Mets’ #7 prospect according to Baseball America. Duda had a rough start to his major league career in 2010, but he is making up for it so far this year. Duda has played in 67 games for the Mets this year and he is 51 for 181 (.282 avg, .820 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 5 homers, 29 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 96 games in his first two years with the Mets and he is 68 for 265 (.257 avg, .776 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 9 homers, 42 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Duda has taken over as the starting RF for the Mets after they dealt Carlos Beltran to the Giants and he is doing a good job.

28-year old righty swinging 3B David Wright has been on fire since coming off the D.L. In his first 12 games since being activated from the D.L., Wright is 20 for 51 (.392 avg) with 10 runs scored, 2 homers and 13 RBIs. Wright has now played in 51 games for the Mets so far this year and he is 53 for 197 (.269 avg, .801 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 8 homers, 31 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Wright’s bat has made up for the loss of Carlos Beltran’s…..so they need him to keep ripping the ball.