NEW YORK -- Michael Conforto created the hype with a fine rookie season that helped the New York Mets reach the 2015 World Series. But the outfielder hasn’t lived up to that hype in months, and the Mets felt they had no choice Friday. They sent Conforto back to the minors for the second time this season.
“I think he’s pressing,” manager Terry Collins said.
Conforto hit well for the first eight weeks of the season. By the time a June slump had lowered his batting average to .222, the Mets decided to send him to Triple-A Las Vegas. The 23-year-old crushed the ball there and earned his way back to the big club. But in 19 games since, he’s hit .200 and now he is Vegas-bound again.
“The guy’s got to go find his swing,” Collins said. “He’s got to go get some confidence.”
Collins said he wants Conforto to get some playing time in center field while he’s there.
Conforto is one of the biggest disappointments in what’s been a disappointing Mets season.
“It’s very discouraging because he was a huge piece of what we did last year,” Collins said. “I mean this guy was a dynamic bat in our lineup. He was a dynamic bat the first two months. But again I think it’s all part of the growing process here that you have to make adjustments at this level because the game gets faster, your opposition gets better reports, they start to make better pitches.”
Collins said the field staff had noticed a hesitation in Conforto’s swing and that it looked as though he was guessing at the incoming pitches.
“It’s tough to hit like that,” Collins said.
Conforto was replaced on the 25-man roster by reliever Seth Lugo, whom the Mets brought in as insurance for Jonathon Niese. Niese allowed six runs in an inning during Thursday’s loss to Arizona and felt discomfort in his knee.
