When pitching coach Dan Warthen found Dillon Gee in the food room off the clubhouse at Citi Field late Sunday afternoon and told the right-hander he was sticking around at the major league level in the bullpen, Gee confessed he was somewhat surprised.

Gee had figured he would be headed to Triple-A Buffalo, because manager Terry Collins had said in a postgame press conference the previous day that Gee might be ill-served working in the bullpen. Collins’ rationale had been that Gee would be most valuable to the organization working in Buffalo’s rotation as a starter, so that he would be ready to jump back into the Mets’ rotation if the need arose.

Instead, reliever D.J. Carrasco was optioned to Buffalo after Sunday’s game to make room for the activation of Chris Young. And Gee will, at least temporarily, work out of the major league bullpen.

The Post reported Jon Niese had been in danger of being bounced to the bullpen, which would have allowed Gee (4-2, 2.22 in seven career starts) to remain in the major league rotation.

“It’s nice to know I pitched well and they’re at least giving me a shot to stay for a little bit,” said Gee, after a round of golf in Manhasset, Long Island, on Monday with Chin-lung Hu, Mike Nickeas and Warthen. “That’s always nice. It was a little bit unexpected, but it’s a nice surprise.”

Gee, who turns 25 on Thursday, has very limited experience working out of a bullpen. He made three relief appearances, along with 13 starts, for the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2007 after being drafted in the 21^st round that year out of Texas-Arlington.

“I’ve only come in relief -- really my whole career, even college -- maybe 10 times,” Gee said. “It’s going to be a different experience. I’m willing to try it and learn and try to do the best I can in that role.”

Gee is pitching with a partially torn labrum, which was never surgically repaired, and which was the result of overuse three years ago. Still, he said he does not necessarily need an extended warm-up time and should be able to adapt to the bullpen.

“My pregame routine for my starts are kind of lengthy, but I it’s just because it’s just become a custom that way,” Gee said. “It’s just more of a ritual than it is that I need it. If I need to get ‘hot’ within 15 pitches, I think I can do it. It’s just that I haven’t had to do it.”

Even Collins’ Saturday comment that Gee would be best-served in Buffalo’s rotation was, in large part, a compliment. It was meant in the sense that Gee needs to be ready to be the primary choice to step back into the major league rotation if needed.

“It’s definitely nice to hear that they think of my name when they’re going to need a starter,” Gee said.