Photo: Josh Holmberg, Las Vegas Review
Former Yankee and current ESPN analyst Aaron Boone is very high on Mets outfielder Michael Conforto who was demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas two weeks ago for the second time this season.
“I still think he’s going to be a good hitter,” Boone told Joe Giglio of NJ Advance Media. “Everyone’s path is different. Even the good ones have fallen on their face during development. Last year, he was a big part of what they did—but he may have been rushed to the big leagues to help that team and hurt his overall development.”
“Now it’s about becoming more polished,” Boone continued. “Look at a guy like Xander Bogaerts in Boston. I don’t see why he can’t follow that path. In 2013, Bogaerts helped the Red Sox win a World Series. In 2014, he fell on his face and that team had to sign Stephen Drew. Last year, he bounced back. Look now. He’s one of the best hitters in the American League.”
Heading into Sunday’s action, Conforto is batting .571 (20-for-35) with four doubles, three home runs, 33 total bases and seven RBI in nine games since being sent down on Aug. 12. His OPS is off the charts at 1.548, that’s not just PCL good, it’s other-worldly.
Triple-A manager Wally Backman was asked why Conforto has struggled this season in the majors and why for the second time this season he’s hit the ball so consistently and with great authority for the Las Vegas 51s.
“He’s a guy that needs to play every day through the good and through the bad,” Backman said. “He’s a 23-year-old kid that’s had his confidence taken away from him from time-to-time where he’s doubted himself.” (Betsy Helfand, Review Journal)
“This kid is going to be a real player, real, real soon in the big leagues. He’s going to be a force. He’s going to be somebody that’s in the middle of your lineup that you expect to drive in big runs.” He’s a young kid still. He’s still learning. He’s 23 years old but he can hit, he just needs to relax.”
Backman has been giving Conforto extensive playing time against left-handed pitching which is where the sophomore outfielder has lost most of his confidence. Conversely, most of his production has come against southpaws during his time with Vegas:
vs LHP – .517 (15-29), .576 OBP, 1.231 OPS
vs RHP – .365 (23-63), .479 OBP, 1.159 OPS
Beat writer Maria Guardado reported that manager Terry Collins is well aware that Conforto is scorching the ball since his demotion, but it still sounds like he’ll stay in Vegas until rosters expand in September.
“I know he’s swinging the bat better — swinging the bat good, not just better,” Collins said Saturday. “But as we know, it’s got to translate here when he gets here.”
Asked if the Mets will turn to him during the upcoming critical series against the St. Louis Cardinals while Neil Walker is out on Paternity Leave, Collins responded, “I really can’t answer that.”
For now, Conforto will get the everyday at-bats he needs as it’s tough to see him getting much if any playing time from Collins with his veterans Yoenis Cespedes, Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson all healthy.
