PORT ST. LUCIE — Scouts are educated, coaches are closer to the subject but nobody knows big league players better than other big leaguers.

So, when a veteran smothers a youngster with praise, it tends to run deeper than praise from other precincts.

“He has a lot of talent and fits right into our camp. He kind of reminds me of me as a younger player a little bit, but he has a lot more talent,’’ Brett Gardner said of Tyler Wade after the Yankees beat the Mets, 11-4, on Wednesday at First Data Field. “He has the ability to control the bat and is a little bigger and stronger than me and he can drive the ball.’’

Then Gardner said something that is picking up steam in the Yankees camp.

“His time with us last year and his time here in big league camp has really improved him and has helped him develop into an everyday player. I think he can do a real good job of being an everyday player as soon as Opening Day,’’ Gardner said of the left-handed hitting Wade, who is said by some to be the fastest player in camp. “He has a lot of tools, puts the bat on the ball and can really, really run.’’

Wade, 23, is battling stud prospect Gleyber Torres and non-roster infielders Danny Espinosa and Jace Peterson for the vacant second-base job and appears to be the front-runner.

When he heard Gardner’s praise, Wade credited the longest-tenured Yankee for showing him on and off the field what a big league player needs to do.

“I have always looked up to Gardy, from Day 1 he has taken me under his wing. Having a guy of his caliber and the success he has had at the major league level, that is an amazing compliment,’’ said Wade, who entered Wednesday’s game in the sixth inning at third base, went 1-for-3 and is hitting .333 (6-for-18).

In an era when the more a player can do, the higher value he has to the team, Wade’s versatility might be the deciding factor in him being with the Yankees in Toronto to open the season.

Wade admits his athleticism helps him play several positions, but his main goal is to win the second-base job.

“I can play all over, but right now I am focused on winning an everyday job,’’ said Wade, who hit .310 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season and batted .155 (9-for-58) in 30 big league games. He was on the roster for the AL wild-card game, but didn’t play. “I would do anything to help the team, but I am focused on winning a job.’’

Regarded as the Yankees’ top prospect, the 21-year-old Torres has just 55 games above Single-A and hadn’t played since June, when he needed Tommy John surgery on his left elbow. Then there is the issue of the Yankees sending him out until the middle of April to gain another year of contract control.

“I don’t know if he is rusty or not. He is such a special player on both sides of the ball. I think for a couple of games there he got going a little fast and wanted to do too much, especially offensively,’’ manager Aaron Boone said of Torres, who is hitting .158 (3-for-19) in eight games. “Our reminder to him is we know what you are capable of and who you are. Don’t be in a hurry. In a sense let the game come to you. There is nothing that tells us he is not going to be really good.”

Drafted as a high-school shortstop in the fourth round of the 2013 draft Wade played six positions for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last season.

Wade was at short for 54 games and spent 13 at second, 12 at third, three in left field, two in center and one in right.

“Tyler Wade continues to be an absolute spark whenever he plays. He does a lot of good things on the baseball field,’’ Boone said.

Good enough to be on the turf at Rogers Centre? We will see.