Amazin’ news: Conforto already on his way to Citi
As the Mets lost their first game of the season Sunday, 5-1 to the Cardinals at Citi Field, their best news came in the travel department: Michael Conforto was heading north.
The center fielder is not eligible to come off the disabled list until Thursday, but he left Port St. Lucie, Fla. on Sunday to join the Mets, the team announced.
Conforto will face rehabbing starter Jason Vargas in a simulated game Monday at Citi Field to get some live at-bats and manager Mickey Callaway said it was “possible” Conforto could be ready to play by Thursday against the Nationals in Washington.
“We’ll get him some really good [batting practice] going, let [hitting coach] Pat Roessler get some eyes on him and make sure he’s ready to go when the time comes,” Callaway said.
The Mets had originally targeted a return date of May 1 for Conforto, but as extended spring training ended Sunday, so did his time in rehab purgatory. If all goes well Monday, he will likely avoid a minor league rehab assignment since the minor league sea- son doesn’t begin until Thursday.
Conforto spent spring training continuing to rehab from September’s surgery that repaired the posterior capsule in his left shoulder after dislocating it on a swing Aug. 24. Ahead of schedule in his recovery, the 25-year-old played in two Grapefruit League games, collecting one hit, two walks and two strikeouts in six at-bats. He played center field in one of those games and served as designated hitter in the other. Just before camp broke, Conforto — who posted a team-high .939 OPS in 109 games last season — said he had taken about 40 at-bats between minor league and major league exhibition games. He estimated he had taken about 60 during last year’s spring training.
The Mets had considered adding Conforto to the Opening Day roster in a pinch-hitting role, but ultimately decided to take the patient route and let him have a few extra days of recovery in Florida. Utilityman Phil Evans earned the last spot on the roster instead while Brandon Nimmo and Juan Lagares did well manning center field during the opening series.