Conforto improving, DL looms

JUPITER — Michael Conforto dove and slid Saturday without a thought about his surgically reconstructed shoulder. The All-Star played five innings in center field and drew two walks; he has surprised manager Mickey Callaway and the Mets’ front office with how far he has come in his rehab on that shoulder.

But, Callaway admitted Saturday the outfielder is probably going to begin the season on the disabled list. “I think at this point, he’s likely to be on the DL when we break camp,” Callaway said. “I can’t say that for a fact, but he’s not going to have played enough innings to be ready on Opening Day.”

Conforto will likely have a day off on Saturday, another indicator that the Mets will not have him on the Opening Day roster. The Mets want to see him play back-to-back days in the field before they will begin the clock for his return.

The May 1 target date set by Mets GM Sandy Alderson seems to be overly cautious at this point. Conforto dove for a ball in center field and slid into home plate and reported no issue with the shoulder.

“It felt good,” Conforto said. “I got to do some things today, slide into home, I dove, which I didn’t really think about. There wasn’t any hesitation there,I just kind of went out there and did it,” Conforto said. “That was good to know; that I am not hesitating and I can do those things. It’s just good to be out there again.

“I guess it was five innings. I was hoping to play more but Mickey said I did enough running around,” Conforto said. “They got me out of there after four at-bats.”

If not next Thursday, it shouldn’t be long before Conforto is back in the big leagues.

“He looked good. We got him out of there, because made a dive after a ball and slid. Those were two things that we didn’t know how those were going to go,” Callaway said. “I am glad he got to do those. We had him scheduled to go seven or nine. After did those couple things, get him out of the game and it is good he feels comfortable. I asked him how he felt coming out of the dive. He said he had no hesitation to dive. So he’s in a really good spot mentally.”