Conforto finished for 2020 season
WASHINGTON — Michael Conforto is getting the remainder of the season off.
A day after returning from a two-day break because of left hamstring discomfort, the outfielder was placed on the injured list Thursday. Luis Guillorme was recalled from the team’s alternate training site to take Conforto’s roster spot.
Conforto aggravated the hamstring, according to manager Luis Rojas, while trying to beat out an infield grounder in his final at-bat against the Rays on Wednesday.
Conforto finished the season with a .927 OPS in 54 games, helping anchor a largely productive Mets lineup. Conforto’s .412 onbase percentage was a career high.
“He had a great regular season, he was solid throughout,” Rojas said. “Offensively, his numbers were there, he was unbelievable. He did a great job just improving some of the parts he said he wanted to improve in his game offensively and then he also improved some of the parts he wanted to improve defensively, as well.
“Just a great overall season for him on the field and I think off the field, too. Michael is one of the leaders in the clubhouse and he is growing more and more as a leader in that clubhouse.”
Conforto, 27, is under club control only through next season. He has indicated there were preliminary talks in spring training with team officials about a contract extension, but those discussions never resumed.
Guillorme, who has emerged as a dependable backup infielder this season, had been optioned to the Mets’ alternate training site earlier in the week to allow room for an extra bullpen arm, Franklyn Kilome.
Robinson Cano said he hadn’t given much thought to Alex Rodriguez’s attempt to buy the Mets, which was trumped by Steve Cohen’s bid. Rodriguez and Cano were teammates with the Yankees and have remained close friends.
“I wasn’t even paying attention to that,” Cano said. “For me, I don’t want to get my focus away from the team.”
Cohen must still gain approval from 23 of 30 MLB owners for the transaction to be complete.
“I have never gotten a chance to meet [Cohen], I don’t know the owner, but from what I hear from people he is going to be good for us,” Cano said.