7:28pm: Carlos Gomez was removed from tonight’s Triple-A game, leading MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo to speculate that the Mets will purchase Gomez’s contract before Friday’s game.
5:27pm: Mets outfielder Michael Conforto suffered a concussion after a scary collision with teammate Robinson Cano during today’s game. Both Conforto and Cano were chasing after a Howie Kendrick fly ball near the right field line when their signals got crossed, causing Cano to accidentally elbow Conforto in the head.
Conforto was immediately removed from the game, and will head back to New York for further observation, as manager Mickey Callaway told reporters (including Newsday’s Tim Healey) after the game. Conforto will be sidelined for at least a week, as per the league’s seven-day concussion IL policy.
The 26-year-old was off to a fantastic start in 2019, hitting .271/.406/.521 with nine home runs over his first 180 plate appearances. As per the advanced metrics, Conforto even had room to grow, as his .387 wOBA still trailed behind his .405 xwOBA. Between this hot hitting and an above-average defensive showing as New York’s everyday right fielder, Conforto has already amassed 1.6 fWAR, tying him with Nolan Arenado for 18th among all players.
With Conforto out of action, the Mets could be further shorthanded in the outfield for at least a day or two since Jeff McNeil also left today’s game with abdominal tightness. The good news in McNeil’s case is that the injury doesn’t seem serious, as he told reporters (including The Athletic’s Tim Britton) that he has faced similar issues before in the wake of multiple hernia operations.
Speaking with WFAN’s Mike Francesca this afternoon (hat tip to SNY.tv’s Steve Gelbs), Callaway said that J.D. Davis will handle left field duties on Friday, indicating that McNeil will miss at least one game. As for the longer-term absence of Conforto, the Mets have Keon Broxton and Juan Lagares on the 25-man roster, though both have struggled badly at the plate. Veterans Carlos Gomez, Gregor Blanco, and Rajai Davis are all on hand at the Triple-A level, though any of that trio would need to be added to the 40-man roster.
It’s hard to necessarily forecast anything until we know the severity of Conforto’s injury, as concussion symptoms can potentially linger. If he faces an absence of weeks rather than days, the Mets might want to consider giving Dominic Smith another look in left field, as the team hasn’t allowed him any outfield work this year, Newsday’s David Lennon writes. Smith offers far more hitting upside than any of the Mets’ other backup outfielders, and while Smith has hit very well in limited playing time this season, his spot at first base has been blocked by rookie sensation Pete Alonso.
He gone for the season
Concussions typically only keep a player out a few weeks, if that. He’ll be back before the ASG
See Clint Frazier last year.
Paging Morneau, Justin.
Can’t just lose gotta lose arguably the best player on the team to a concussion. Hope he’s not out too long
Same here missing him in the lineup is a huge blow I hope they can stay afloat while he’s out
With 3 against the Marlins then another 3 against the Nats (who they tend to beat when they should lose and lose when they should win), hopefully they’ll be able to weather him for a week.
A week? Is this 1998?
Hes got a concussion, don’t expect to see him anytime soon.
In 1998 he probably would have missed a game or less. A week is definitely possible
The concussion DL is 7 days for a reason. Depending on the severity, I’d say he could miss anywhere from 1-4 weeks.
Cano literally hurting the team…
Hahaha
When Clint fraizer got his last season it took a whole year to fully recover from it. Hope it isn’t the case here :(
He’s a met it will take 2 years probably
This team is cursed. Feel bad for their fans.
First McNeil, then Conforto and now…Prinkles?!
The Mets aaa outfield is legit. Better than a few major teams outfield
Lol, are you high?
Granted if you turn back the clock 5-10 years, an OF of Carlos Gomez, Rajai Davis, and Gregor Blanco would’ve been among the best in the league. Some talent is still there. Rajai Davis at 38 is still one of the fastest in the league.
How about them Phillies owning the north division! That Harper signing is looking genius so far with McCutchen in the mix.
It’s a long season.Remember how they faded last year.Don’t celebrate just yet.
The guy hitting .221? Genius!
They’re winning the north? That’s amazing considering it’s impossible!
Maybe just worry about getting all the cheesteak down your gullet and rooting on the Eagles. Maybe throw a hissy fit when one of the black guys takes a knee I know you people are all about freedom until it tries to be exercised.
NFL players are some of the last people that should be kneeling. With all of the abusers and rapist.
Does injuring another player lower Cano’s WAR?
Whacks Above Replacement?
They sure don’t make em like they used to.
I’m always amazed at the amount of collisions and booted balls as a result of non communication between outfielders and between outfielders/infielders. You see two players going for a ball and someone has to take command-eg. yell out my ball, but as far as I can see on many occasions this just does not happen. It’s the outfielder’s responsibility to call the infielder off it.
First McNeil, then Conforto and now…Prinkles?!
looked like conforto got ko’ed last night