After being sent back to New York to undergo further testing on a tweaked side, it was revealed on Tuesday that Mets outfielder Michael Conforto has a strained oblique.
It’s the first injury to a notable Met this spring, which is some good fortune compared to the other New York team across town.
But the prospect of losing Conforto for some time — especially given the trickiness of oblique injuries — would be a sizable blow to the middle of the Mets’ lineup. The 27-year-old managed to put everything together in 2019, slashing .257/.363/.494 with a career-high 33 home runs and 92 RBI.
Unlike the ghosts of years past where one or two injuries would completely offset the equilibrium of the organization, the Mets are — at least on paper — built to stay afloat should their starting right fielder find himself stuck on the injured list.
As a simple plug-and-play option, the Mets could give Dominic Smith the opportunity to start in right.
The natural first baseman who was usurped by the powerful rookie season of Pete Alonso made the shift to the outfield.
While his defense was suspect at times, his bat is worthy of getting an extended look in the lineup if needed.
In 177 at-bats over 89 games, Smith slashed .282/.355/.525 with 11 home runs and 25 RBI. It was the first legitimate flash that the 24-year-old can develop into a valuable contributor at the major-league level.
If Luis Rojas wants to keep Smith’s bat as the first option off the bench, he could give Jake Marisnick starts in center field while shifting over Brandon Nimmo to right.
Marisnick is billed as a Juan Lagares-type center fielder but with more power. Meanwhile, Nimmo — who is projected to be the Mets’ Opening Day center fielder — has experience in right with 83 career games played there.
The outlook of the outfield completely changes, however, if Yoenis Cespedes can make it back for Opening Day.
While he isn’t expected to play every day during the early portions of the year as he works his way back from a fractured ankle, he could get occasional starts in left field while JD Davis — the current No. 1 left fielder while Cespedes recovers — shifts to right.
