The New York Mets could be in for more bad injury news after Michael Conforto left Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Conforto and the Mets had been in contract talks before the season began, but failed to reach and agreement. Such is an important storyline to this update, as any severe injury to Conforto would unfortunately impact his chance at a big payday next offseason.
Conforto and the Mets are on a two-game losing streak, hoping to snap that skid against the Rays on Sunday. So far, so bad with the star outfielder pulling up lame on the way to first base.
Geez. Conforto grabbed his right hamstring as he ran down the line. He's out of the game.
— Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) May 16, 2021
When it rains, it pours.
Michael Conforto is out of the game after pulling up lame on his way to first base in the first inning.
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) May 16, 2021
Jake Hager replaces Conforto in right field, a position he has never played professionally.
The Mets are down to two bench players: catchers Tomas Nido and Patrick Mazeika.
From Gelb’s point of view, Conforto’s injury looked like a hamstring issue.
Mets dealing with enough injury issues as is
Jacob deGrom, for one, is hopefully nearing a return. But New York doesn’t need one of their best bats going down just as their ace comes back.
Conforto is hitting just .230 on the season so far, but he’s got five-tool potential at his best, and he’s in a contract year. The smart money is on him improving over the course of a long campaign.
A seven-game winning streak gave the Mets some breathing room in the NL East, which they quickly gave up with a two-game skid. New York was projected to win 96 games by PECOTA before the season.