Outfield prospect Michael Conforto showed himself to be as good as advertised during the Futures Game on Sunday.
Conforto stroked two hard line drive singles to center and right field in his two at-bats, and also impressed in the field when he showed off his powerful arm and fired a throw to nail a runner at the plate.
To say that his performance left scouts and experts drooling would be an understatement. The calls for his promotion to the big leagues are getting louder and louder.
There are also many in the Mets media who have been calling for Conforto’s promotion too. Most of them cite sources and scouts who all tell them that Conforto is more than ready to succeed in the major leagues.
Conforto is batting .312 with a .394 on-base percentage and a .869 OPS in 37 games with Double-A Binghamton. He has ten doubles, two triples and three home runs in 160 plate appearances while scoring 17 runs and driving in 21.
Many in the media believe that it would be a huge waste of time to send the 22-year old Conforto to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Kevin Kernan of the New York Post spoke extensively with Conforto in Cincinnati and what was most impressive was how confident this exciting and talented prospect is.
“There are people who think I need more at-bats. They could be right. They might not be, but no matter what, I’m just going to enjoy my time and learn as much as I can while I’m there. I know I’m ready for the next step.’’ (New York Post)
“It’s not my call, all I can do is prepare myself and show up in Binghamton and wherever I’m at and show up with the right attitude and the right work ethic and my play on the field will speak for itself,’’ he said.
Of course the kid is right, it’s not his call, that decision belongs to Sandy Alderson. And as recently as last week, the Mets GM made it pretty clear that no promotion was forthcoming.
“At this point, he’s still in Binghamton and I would expect him to be over there for the near term,” Alderson said.
Some have tossed out the idea that the Mets would prefer to wait until the super two cut off next season. But honestly, I don’t think the Mets have the luxury of time to wait that long.
The Mets have nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain by bringing him up to see what he can do in the hopes that he can spark this offense and give the team the bat they crave. That of course assumes that he is ready. Conforto could be the game changer that this team needs.
If Conforto shows that he’s not ready he can always be sent back to the minors for more seasoning after a two-week trial, which would have no effect on his super two status.
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