Conforto exits with bruised hand after HBP

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Mets avoided a potentially impactful injury Sunday, when X-rays came back negative on outfielder Michael Conforto's left hand. Conforto escaped with just a bruise after Giants starter Matt Moore hit him with a 92 mph fastball in the fifth inning of an 8-2 Mets victory.
When the pitch struck him, Conforto dropped to the ground, remaining there as Mets athletic trainer Ray Ramirez and manager Terry Collins examined him. Eventually, Conforto ambled to his feet, remaining in the game for another inning and a half.
When the Mets took the field for the bottom of the sixth, Brandon Nimmo replaced Conforto in left.
"I felt like I had pretty good movement in my hand," Conforto said, noting the ball hit the padding underneath his left pinkie, rather than bone. "Once we did some tests out there after it happened, I kind of realized that it was probably not broken, it was probably OK. Ray told me that he just wanted to be sure that there was nothing going on in there, that he just wanted to play it safe and get an X-ray and make sure."
A strong bet to represent the Mets at the All-Star Game next month in Miami, Conforto was batting .285 with 14 home runs in 69 games at the time of his injury. Because the Mets faced eight opposing left-handed starters over a 14-game stretch that ended Sunday, Conforto has played sparingly in recent weeks.
The Mets will see two right-handed pitchers in Miami this week, including Dan Straily on Tuesday. Conforto hopes to be in the lineup for that game.
"I want to be back in there as soon as possible," he said immediately after Sunday's game. "It's pretty stiff right now so we'll keep treating it."