Luisangel Acuna is forcing the Mets to make room for him

PHOENIX — Luisangel Acuña was hardly a sure thing for the major league roster this season even late into spring training, but through roughly 20 percent of the team’s schedule he has been among the most important Mets players. 

Already a National League Rookie of the Month winner this season, the energetic infielder entered Monday with a .298/.355/.369 slash line and eight stolen bases. 

Over his past 21 games he was batting .343 with an .810 OPS and seven stolen bases.

Numbers of that magnitude have made it difficult for manager Carlos Mendoza to remove Acuña from the lineup, even with Jeff McNeil’s return from the injured list over the past 10 days.