Mike can’t be left out of Big Apple
PORT ST. LUCIE − It’s not the role Michael Conforto dreamed of, but it is a role he will happily accept. The 23-year-old has made the Mets’ 25-man roster. “I found out this morning. Terry (Collins) called me in and just gave me the situation,” Conforto said. “I am going to be coming off the bench and be a pinchhitter late in the game. Said he is going to try and get me as many at-bats as possible, he knows that is important for me in my development. Obviously I am excited to be with the team and any role I have to play I’ll play. I just want to win ballgames and see how far we can take this thing.”
After an eye-opening debut with the Mets in 2015, which included hitting .333 with two homers in five World Series games, he had a sophomore slump last season
He started 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. He finished hitting just .220 in 109 games with the big-league club.
This was in stark contrast to 2015 when Conforto − called up directly from Double-A as the offense floundered that season − hit .270 with an .841 OPS, nine home runs and 26 RBI before continuing to hit in the postseason.
With the Mets unable to move Jay Bruce this winter, Conforto was in danger of being sent to Triple-A. The Mets wanted him to play every day instead of sit on the bench.
But he will be the Mets’ only left-handed threat off the bench in a division dominated by right-handed closers.
“We’ll do the best we can to get him at-bats, to stay sharp. As you guys know the closers in our division are right handed. He’s going to face some tough assignments,” Collins said. “For a young guy that’s a lot to ask, but we think he can do it.”
LAGARES SLOW START
Juan Lagares was able to get through exercises Thursday morning, but after trying to swing a bat, the outfielder said he could still feel the left oblique strain that has kept him on the shelf the last five days. He will try again over the next two days, but he is likely to begin the season on the disabled list.
“(Lagares) worked out this morning, felt OK, came in not quite right and I think in our case, because we have the flexibility with Conforto as a fourth outfielder that we want to make sure that Juan is 100%,” GM Sandy Alderson said.
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who has been out with a pulled right hamstring, will also begin the season on the disabled list.
DOTS ALL FOLKS