Mets' Tyler Naquin looking forward to 'another opportunity to be on a good ball club'

At 10:30 p.m. on Thursday night, Tyler Naquin had to quickly pack up his apartment, ship some things to his home state of Texas and new home ballpark Citi Field, and get on the next flight to Miami to join his new team after finding out he was traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the Mets.

“It was definitely out of the blue,” Naquin said.

But as quickly as he was traded, Naquin is now even more quickly thrust into a pennant race, trying to help the Mets reach the World Series for the first time since 2015.

“I’m excited,” he said. “It’s another opportunity, you know, to be on a good ball club. This is a good team and any time you get another opportunity it’s always cool to look forward to that.”

Of course Naquin is excited. Who wouldn’t be?

After playing in Cincinnati for the last season and a half and not playing in too many competitive or meaningful games, the 31-year-old now has a chance to do exactly that.

And he’s right, the Mets, at 61-37 entering play on Friday, are a good ball club.

“It’s fun, it’s exciting news…” he said. “Like I said, it’s been a whirlwind the past couple of hours. Got a couple of old teammates from the Indians when we went to the playoffs so it’ll be a fun ride.”

Naquin started his career in Cleveland — where he was drafted 15th overall in the 2012 MLB Draft — and made his debut in 2016, playing with now Mets Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco while finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting that season.

When asked about playing with his former teammates, Lindor and Carrasco, Naquin spoke highly of them.

“It’s good, they bring a lot of energy,” he said. “They’re fun to be around and kind of reconnect with those guys and, you know, same game just a lil different team.”

During that 2016 season, Cleveland made it to the World Series before losing to the Chicago Cubs. In three out of the next four seasons that Naquin was there, his team made the playoffs.

So, if nothing else, Naquin brings more postseason experience to an already veteran and experienced team.

But Naquin isn’t here for playoff experience.

No matter his role, whether it’s hitting against lefties or righties, getting asked to steal a bag or spell a player in the outfield (he has a great arm), Naquin is ready to do it all.

“Honestly at this moment, whatever they need. Just take it day by day, fill in where I fit in so that’s the deal so far,” he said.