Tim Teufel will remain with Mets’ organization

Tim Teufel, replaced as Mets third- base coach last week, has decided to stay with the organization as a roving minor-league infield instructor and club ambassador, the Mets announced Friday.

Teufel, 58, was removed from his job on Terry Collins’ staff in favor of Glenn Sherlock, a former Diamondbacks bench coach who also will be the catching instructor.

The former second baseman has had a special place in the hearts of Mets fans for 30 years because he was a member of the 1986 World Series championship team (he walked in the sixth inning of Game 7, extending a pivotal rally that erased a 3-0 deficit). But some of his decisions on the field last season raised criticism. Among those was sending Wilmer Flores home on Sept. 10, resulting in Flores being called out and getting injured (although Collins also took blame for not having put in a pinch runner).

When general manager Sandy Alderson announced Teufel’s removal from the staff on Nov. 15, he issued a statement saying, “Tim Teufel has done an excellent job for us over many years in many different roles. I hope he continues in the Mets organization.”

Teufel joined the Mets in a 1986 trade with the Twins for Billy Beane and other players. He remained until he was traded to the Padres for Garry Templeton in 1991. He returned as a scout in 1998 and has been with the club ever since.

In the club ambassador portion of his job, Teufel will have the same title that 1986 Mets teammate Mookie Wilson has held.