New York Mets: Michael Conforto to undergo shoulder surgery
By Tim Haberin
New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto will have surgery to repair a torn capsule in his shoulder, and his recovery timeframe remains uncertain.
The injuries have been frequent and widespread for the New York Mets this season, but the shoulder malady that put Michael Conforto on the disabled list last week was particularly frustrating given how well the young outfielder has performed this year. New details emerged today, as Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported that Conforto will undergo surgery to repair a torn capsule in his left shoulder.
Conforto’s recovery from the surgery will take months, but right now it’s unclear exactly how long he will be out of commission. DiComo says the rehab could prevent the 24-year-old from starting next season on time. Mets assistant general manager John Ricco believes they should know more once Conforto undergoes the procedure next week:
"“It’s certainly going to be months,” Ricco said. “Until he has the surgery, I don’t think we’re going to be ready to put a time frame on it. But it’s going to be considerable.”"
That’s not the most welcome piece of news for a Mets fanbase that has dealt with its share of headaches this year. Per DiComo, similar surgeries come with a four-to-six-month recovery timetable. If Conforto requires something toward the higher end of that window, his Spring Training could definitely be affected.
Conforto suffered the shoulder injury while taking a swing during a game against the Diamondbacks on Aug. 24. Until that point he was enjoying a breakthrough season in his third major league campaign. In 109 games, Conforto slashed .279/.384/.555 with 27 home runs and 68 RBI. He earned his first trip to the All-Star Game in July, and his 4.3 fWAR currently ranks seventh among all outfielders.
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Those results were music to the Mets’ ears considering the way Conforto struggled last year. He hit just .220/.310/.414 through 109 games in 2016 with 12 homers and 42 RBI. Regardless of the season-ending injury, the former top prospect answered a lot of questions about his ability to succeed at the big league level in 2017.
In the short term, the Mets recently signed Nori Aoki to bolster their depleted outfield. Aside from Conforto, Yoenis Cespedes is also injured and out for the rest of the season. Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson departed in trades last month, further thinning the ranks.
However, if Conforto must indeed miss part of 2018, the Mets might need to make arrangements during the offseason to address the possibility. DiComo wonders if they could make a play for Lorenzo Cain, but that seems somewhat unlikely given the team typically steers clear of prominent free agents.
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Conforto has cemented his status as a centerpiece of the Mets’ future, so above all else the club and its fans will hope his surgery goes well and he bounces back as quickly as possible.