Michael Conforto Back With the Mets: Fantasy impact

The Mets are activating outfielder Michael Conforto from the DL. What will his return to the lineup mean for his and his teammates’ fantasy value?

The New York Mets have had some of the worst luck when it comes to injuries over the past couple of seasons. Though it seems like their luck is turning around. The team announced it plans on activating outfielder Michael Conforto from the DL in time to play on Thursday, as first reported by Mike Puma of the New York Post.

Conforto had a shoulder injury late in the season and he missed all of September. He underwent surgery to repair a torn capsule. The surgery required six months of recovery time, putting his return date sometime in late March/early April.

It’s not a surprise that he’s ready to return to baseball activity, but it is a surprise that he’s ready to join the Mets and play 150-plus games with the team. Conforto returning to the lineup will help everyone around him, too.

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Conforto is already owned in 82 percent of ESPN leagues and 91 percent in CBS Sports leagues. So if you don’t have him and want him, you’ll have to trade for him.

Conforto played in just 109 games last season, same as 2016, but he made a lot of improvements at the plate. He hit 27 home runs, 68 RBIs, 72 runs and .279 in that span. His strikeout rate remained the same while his walk rate went up three percent. Conforto hit more line drives than fly balls but was able to convert those fly balls into home runs, 27.3 HR/FB rate.

Conforto will be taking over for Brandon Nimmo in center field with Yoenis Cespedes and Jay Bruce in left and right field, respectively. He will likely hit as the leadoff hitter with Cespedes, Bruce and Todd Frazier behind him. Those guys will have better protection in front of them, giving them chances to swing at good pitches.

That will give him plenty of opportunities to get on base and score runs. With Conforto missing just five games, he should hit close to his 27 home runs with a .275 average.

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Conforto is an outfielder worth stashing in dynasty and keeper leagues. If you’re able to acquire him from his current fantasy owner, he will be a top-15 outfielder by the end of the season. While the Mets may not compete for a World Series, they have a good enough offense to spoil someone else’s run now that Conforto is back.