Conforto will get chances as a reserve
Last April, Michael Conforto was on an absolute tear for the Mets. In 21 games, he hit .365 was on a pace for 31 homers, 139 RBIs and 116 runs scored.
In July, he was back in the minors, playing in Las Vegas. A real riches to rags story.
Conforto made it back to the Mets after posting video-game numbers at Triple-A. Still, with the Mets having imported Jay Bruce last summer to join fixtures Yoenis Cespedes and Curtis Granderson, along with Juan Lagares, a return to the minors seemed likely for the lefty-hitting Conforto, 24. But Lagares tweaked an oblique and Conforto got the word he would remain as a reserve.
“I feel good. Confident. It’s a different role for me starting the year, but I feel great,” said Conforto, who was a late-season revelation two summers ago and played in the World Series. “I’m excited about the opportunity to just get in there and hopefully influence some games late and give some guys rest and do what I can to help the team win.
“My goal in the offseason was to get here,” said Conforto, who finished last season hitting .220 — but only because of a .300-plus September. “It’s tough with all the talent we have on this team, there weren’t many spots to get.”
Manager Terry Collins has been a Conforto supporter and said he knows Conforto has it in him. But he also knows the young outfielder can torture himself.
“After the month he had in April, everybody’s chanting ‘MVP’ about this kid — he hit homers, leading the league in RBI or whatever. And they’re chanting ‘MVP.’ Then he expected too much of himself,” Collins said. “That’s the way I look at it. That’s when we saw the change in his swing. He went from that really nice, smooth, through-the-ball swing and created himself a hole. And they exploited it at this level, which they can do.”
Collins, with a set outfield, said he still sees room for Conforto, but in a role that provides some breathing room.
“I talked to him. He wants to play. I told him right now this is where he needs to be to help us the most. He’s on board,” Collins said. “That fine line for me is, ‘ You don’t have to like what you’re going to be asked to do but you’ve got to accept it and go about and do it right.’ And he will.”