Wilmer Flores somehow discovered a way to endear himself even more to New York Mets fans.
The 24-year-old Venezuelan infielder told the New York Post that he wants "to be a Met forever."
Flores famously won over the hearts of Mets fans last season when he was seen shedding tears after he thought he had been traded in late July.
"I will never forget that night," Flores told the Post. "To hear my name chanted out there, that was unbelievable. My mom came up in August for my birthday and went to games in Miami and Tampa and she was shocked, everybody was cheering my name."
The trade, which would have sent Flores to the Milwaukee Brewers, eventually fell through, but the incident rendered a soft spot in the hearts of Mets fans for Flores, who was signed by the organization in 2007.
The love affair is mutual, as Flores is unequivocally grateful for the support.
"What I learned is that New York has a lot of love," Flores said. "They are real fans. The love that I feel from the fans is amazing. It makes you feel at home. It makes you feel like you belong here.
"The fans tell me they want me to be a Met forever. Playing baseball somewhere else would be tough."
In his first full season with the Mets last season, Flores hit .263/.295/.408 with 16 home runs and 59 RBI in 137 games.
While he served as the Mets' shortstop for a majority of 2015, he knows that role could change throughout the next season. He is prepared to move to second, third or even first base as well.
Should his role with the Mets completely vanish due to a trade that sends him elsewhere, Flores expects another emotional reaction.
"I'm very proud to be a Met," he told the Post. "If it ever happens again, if I get traded, I will be sad. I will probably cry again. But hopefully not on the field."
