NEW YORK -- The last time the Mets had the No. 10 pick in the MLB Draft -- as they do again this Sunday -- they chose a smooth-swinging left-handed slugger out of Oregon State who was known first for his bat, his outfield defense merely a footnote on an illustrious college career that culminated in a College World Series run. Manager Luis Rojas, who was then with the Mets’ affiliate in Savannah, Ga., remembers those scouting reports on Michael Conforto well.
Shortly after he was drafted, Rojas also recalls watching Conforto, who was with Low-A Brooklyn, throw out two runners in back-to-back innings and make eye-opening plays in the outfield. So he had to wonder about the veracity of those scouting reports, which indicated defense “was supposed to be one of his weaker areas.”
“I think he probably heard it. He was a first-rounder and there’s all this evaluation around him and all those [reports] are public,” Rojas said. “We had this conversation the next year because I managed him the next year in the Florida State League, and he said he didn’t know where [those reports] came from, but he was pretty comfortable out there playing left or whatever.”
Seven years later, Conforto is more than comfortable as the right fielder on a first-place club, and even as his bat has hit rough patches since his return from the injured list, his defense hasn’t seemed to suffer. Consider the play he made in an otherwise forgettable loss to the Braves on June 30, when he covered 55 feet to rob Dansby Swanson of extra bases with a full-extension leaping grab. Plays like this one have become more common from Conforto, and Rojas said it’s all a product of the work he’s put in.
“He always showed that he was a good outfielder. His intention every day coming to the ballpark is to work and get better,” Rojas said. “In ‘19 when I was the outfield coach here, we talked about some things he could improve and he responded really well. This is a guy that’s very coachable, very athletic, and I don’t think he’s ever been a below-average outfielder. I just think that he just keeps getting better.”
The numbers are starting to bear that out. While advanced fielding metrics were not kind to Conforto in 2020, when he finished the shortened season with -5 outs above average, he has gotten that back into the positives with 1 OAA this season, which puts him squarely in the Top 15 of outfielders and equals Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr.’s total.
Although Conforto is slashing .119/.283/.143 since returning from the injured list on June 23, Rojas said he’s also starting to see that signature left-handed stroke, which the manager called “one of the sweetest swings in baseball,” returning to form.
“We think playing games and seeing pitches is just gonna get him at that point,” Rojas said. “He can get hot like that, so we’re looking at that starting to happen starting tonight.”
Cookie, Thor progress
Carlos Carrasco took fielding practice off the Citi Field mound on Friday as he continues to ramp up to an eventual rehab assignment after suffering a torn right hamstring. Rojas said the right-hander has been moving more deliberately and will throw a live batting practice on Saturday.
Rojas said the Mets would like to see how that rehab assignment, expected to be some time next week, goes before sharing a plan on his return to the team.
Noah Syndergaard, on the 60-day IL recovering from Tommy John surgery, threw from 90 feet on Friday.
Roster move
The Mets claimed right-handed pitcher Geoff Hartlieb off waivers from the Pirates and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse. The reliever made four appearances for Pittsburgh this season, giving up four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings with four strikeouts and five walks.
Hartlieb was originally a 37th-round Draft pick by the Mets in 2015, but he did not sign and was selected by the Pirates in the 29th round the following year.