CON-DO ATTITUDE
Conforto starts strong in bid to make Met roster:
FORT MYERS — Michael Conforto is not about to make it easy for the Mets. The young outfielder knows his spot on the major league roster is in question.
But the 23-year-old came into camp letting it be known he was not going down to Triple-A without a fight. Trimmed down and with a swing that looks a lot like the one he burst into the majors with two years ago, Conforto has asked for every at-bat he can get. And Friday he made the most of them. In the Mets’ first Grapefruit League game Friday, he hit a single off left-hander Henry Owens and homered off Kyle Kendrick. The Mets also got a home run from Gavin Cecchini in the 3-2 win at JetBlue Park.
“It’s game one and I definitely want to get off on the right foot,” Conforto said. “Felt good to get a couple hits and put some runs on the board.
“I am feeling like I am sinking into my legs a little bit as I load,” Conforto explained. “That felt good, the timing felt great and so we’ll see, that’s going to be something I am working on all of spring.”
The game doesn’t really count for much, but every at-bat for Conforto matters this spring. The Mets have their corner outfield basically set with Yoenis Cespedes and Jay Bruce. They have Curtis Granderson, Juan Lagares and Conforto to consider at center and as backups.
The Mets have made it clear if he doesn’t force his way into a spot in the Mets already over-crowded outfield, he very well could start in Triple-A. So this spring is a battle for Conforto. “He’s got to show he belongs in the big leagues. He’s got to swing the bat,” Terry Collins said. “He is going to play all three outfield positions this spring and he has to show us his swing is back. “Today was a good start,” the Mets manager said. Conforto said he is not allowing himself to feel that pressure of having to make the team.
“I just need to be a better player at the end of spring training,” Conforto said. “I wouldn’t say it’s pressure. I just need to go out and play the game and the rest will take care of itself.”
Called up directly from Double-A as the offense floundered, Conforto hit .270 with an .841 OPS, 12 home runs and 26 RBI. He went on to force his way into the Mets’ playoff lineup that season, hitting .333 with two homers in five World Series games.
“When you have that much success so early, it makes it hard when you do struggle,” Collins said. “But the good players figure out how to get through it.”
It seemed like Conforto might be that rare player who would skip that step of struggling.
He started last April hitting .342 with a 1.050 OPS through April 30.
He was so hot that even though the Mets had protected Conforto against left-handed pitchers, Collins felt he had to start him against Madison Bumgarner. After going 0-for-5 against the Giants lefty, Conforto hit just .148 until he was sent down on June 25.
That month and a half was uncomfortable and frustrating.
“I was trying too many things, really worried about covering all of the plate and worried about that inside ball,” Conforto said. “I wasn’t doing what I am comfortable doing. I wasn’t looking for my pitch.”
“It was a bad year, there’s no way around that,” the 23-year old said. “But I can learn from that. I looked at video and I went to work.”
Conforto came into camp seven pounds lighter, which he hopes will help with his durability. He also came in with a swing that was much shorter and looked more like the one he used to burst onto the scene in 2015.
Friday, Conforto’s swing looked familiar to Collins.
“The bat quickness is very good. The plane of the swing is much, much better than I saw last year,” Collins said. “Those are great signs.”
And getting an opposite-field single off the lefty was definitely a confidence booster for Conforto and the Mets.
Collins said that even if Conforto tears it up in the Grapefruit League, he could start in Triple-A.
Or not, Collins said with a shrug
“Maybe he’ll squeeze somebody else out,” Collins said with a smile. “Like I said, it was a good start.”