Down in the Florida State League, scouts and New York Mets brass are keeping eye on their 2014 first round pick, left-fielder Michael Conforto. Conforto, 22, is considered by many to be one of the top prospects in all of baseball, rated 75th by MLB.com and 80th by Baseball America entering the 2015 season. If Conforto keeps up the production he’s been displaying, he should be in the top-50 prospects category by 2016.
Conforto was drafted 10th overall in 2014 as a collegiate athlete out of Oregon State. During his college career, Conforto hit a combined .340 with a .560 SLG, and had more walks (120) than strikeouts (119). Another plus for the Mets is that he’s had three years of college experience hitting against competitive talent, which gave him a leg up entering the minor leagues. Conforto shouldn’t take long to advance through the Mets’ system; through 42 games Conforto is batting .298 with seven home-runs and 27 RBIs. Conforto leads the Florida State League in total bases (82) and is third in RBIs (27), home runs (7), and SLG (.488).
With the Mets other top outfield prospect, twenty-two year old Brandon Nimmo, out four-to-six weeks with a sprained ACL, suffered while playing in Double-A Binghamton, it’s time for the Mets to promote Conforto and challenge him with higher level pitching. The great thing about drafting a college player is that their experience gives them an edge when it comes to progressing quickly through the minor league ranks. The Mets needn’t worry about grooming Conforto; he has the bat speed and power to be a major contributor for the big league club, and possibly sooner than most Mets’ fans think.
Conforto has a short, compact swing at the plate. He keeps his hands in and has great plate discipline. In spring training last season, Conforto impressed Mets management in the at-bats he had with the big club. There was some initial debate as to whether Conforto should start the season in Low-A Savannah, but Conforto impressed enough that he landed on St. Lucie’s roster. His stock rises with each passing game, and it certainly won’t be long until he’s promoted to Double-A.
The Florida State League has been known as a pitcher’s league for years, which makes Conforto’s numbers even more impressive. The Mets can’t waste time and slow his progression. As evidenced by their recent lack run production, the Mets can use all the offensive tools they can get right now. Michael Cuddyer, the Mets “big” free agent signing for 2015, is batting a paltry .247 on the year with an OPS of .664. Fortunately, Cuddyer is signed only through 2016, meaning Conforto should be primed and ready to take over the left-field position as early as summer of 2016. Cuddyer’s numbers can’t go unnoticed; for all the flack shortstop Wilmer Flores takes, Cuddyer easily has underperformed at least as basdly this season. Compared to the other 17 qualifying left-fielders in baseball, Cuddyer is third lowest in OPS and SLG, and sixth lowest in batting average.
The Mets are 26th in baseball in batting average as a team (.236), 24th in runs scored (159), and 29th in OPS (.657). With news coming out that third-basemen David Wright suffered yet another set back in his return, nnow having been diagnosed with stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal system, the Mets are going to have to reach out for suitors (Red Sox, Cubs, Rockies, Dodgers?) for trade solutions to stay relevant in 2015. In the meantime, Mets fans should keep an eye on young Conforto, as he might very well be the next great position prospect the Mets have so desperately sought since Jose Reyes and David Wright.
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