Reyes becomes center Rof attention

PORT ST. LUCIE — Jose ReyesRe enjoys the challenge.

ThoughT the veteran infielderinf is slated to become the Mets’ starting third basemanma — after David Wright’s throwingth program recently waswa shut down because of a sshoulder impingement — teamtea brass still wants Reyes to learn center field.

The lessons continued Wednesday, with Reyes shagging flies in center field at the team’s spring training complex.

“I like to run a lot,” Reyes said. “I like to chase the balls.”

Reyes’ center-field work will continue sporadically, but the focus will become third base, beginning Thursday. Reyes then will play shortstop for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic before returning to third base with the Mets.

“There’s no guarantees that [third base] is the only position he’s going to end up playing,” manager Terry Collins said. “So he’s still got to go out and catch balls in other places.”

Collins indicated Reyes won’t get much playing time in center this spring.

“But I think he’s athletic enough to go out and do it,” Collins said. “He runs them down just fine. You put the second deck on the stadium and it’s a little different, but he’s not a guy you are going to run out there to start a game in center field.

“He’s the guy, you’ve got to double-switch and need somebody to go out there in center field, he might be the guy. He’s not going to get a lot of playing time, but as long as he’s comfortable that is all that matters.”

Lucas Duda resumed taking batting practice after s i tt i ng out s everal days because of what he termed as back spasms. Duda received a cortisone injection in each hip last week.

Zack Wheeler threw live batting practice for the first time, placing him in position to start an exhibition game next week.

“My feel was good, all my pitches were good — just a little fine-tuning on my curveball, but that will come and I’m happy with where I am at right now,” said Wheeler, who missed the past two seasons rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

The Mets will begin using their marquee pitchers Friday, when Noah Syndergaard starts against the Astros.