The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Conforto still not swinging
Mets slugger Michael Conforto said he is feeling good but hasn’t started swinging a bat yet as he works his way back from a freak shoulder injury.
Conforto spoke about his rehab Wednesday as he took part in the Mets’ annual coat drive at Citi Field.
The Mets slugger, who dislocated his left shoulder on a swing and miss during an Aug. 24 game against the Diamondbacks, said he has been rehabbing the shoulder 3-4 times a week.
“Super monotonous, super boring,” Conforto said about his rehab, split between New York and Seattle. “It’s a grind in a different way. Usually at this point I’m kicking it up a notch in my workouts and trying to get into great shape. Right now it’s all about the shoulder.
“My shoulders have never been in better shape,” Conforto joked. “It might help my throwing arm.”
He said in his normal, day-to-day life his shoulder feels fine, but that he has yet to be cleared to do exercises that put stress on the surgically repaired shoulder.
Conforto, who said he has been assured by doctors that there is almost no chance of repeating the injury, won’t change the mechanics of his swing.
Conforto had surgery in September at the KerlanJobe Orthopedic Clinic in California to repair the torn capsule in his shoulder. He’ll return to L.A. in a couple weeks so the doctors can assess his progress. He expects to find out when he can start hitting at that point.
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said earlier this week that he didn’t think Conforto would be ready to play by Opening Day.
While Conforto said he’s definitely itching to get back in the batting cage, he said he’s not concerned about his timetable to get back on the field being pushed back further. He said he plans on heading down to Port St. Lucie at the end of January so the Mets can keep an eye on his progress.
Although he said he hasn’t spoken to Alderson since the end of the season, Conforto said the message from the Mets has been consistent: It’s a long season, don’t rush it.
He admitted that the slow and steady approach will be tough “because I want to be out there.”
Conforto, who earned his first All-Star appearance last season, was having a break-out campaign before the injury ended his season. He was hitting .279 with 27 home runs and 68 RBIs at the time.
SWARZAK JOINING TEAM
A person familiar with the contract said freeagent reliever Anthony Swarzak has reached a deal with the Mets.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity at the winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., because Swarzak still needed to complete a physical. Swarzak is set to get $14 million over two years.
Swarzak was a combined 6-4 with two saves and a 2.33 ERA in 70 games last season for the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee. The 32-yearold righty has pitched for five teams in the last four years, including Minnesota, Cleveland and the Yankees.
The Mets went 70-92 and came to the meetings looking for relief help.
Swarzak is 23-30 with a 4.22 ERA over eight seasons. He began his big league career in 2009 with the Twins and was a starter his first year, then began moving into a relief role.