Mickey Callaway was throwing batting practice to Michael Conforto on Friday, and the Mets manager immediately noticed a positive difference in his previously slumping lefty slugger.
Since that BP, Conforto homered in two straight games and reached base safely eight times in two consecutive wins over the Marlins, including the second of back-to-back blasts with Pete Alonso in the sixth inning of Saturday’s 4-1 victory at Citi Field.
“I saw it in BP [Friday]. I said ‘Hey, I can tell it’s different. I can tell you’re back,’ ” Callaway said after the game. “And when he came out [Saturday], I said, ‘I told you you’re back.’ You can just see it in his overall swing and his confidence. I throw to him most days and you can just tell the difference.”
Conforto entered Friday in a 9-for-58 slide (.155) over his previous 19 games, but he went 3-for-3 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch in the Mets’ 11-2 win. In addition to his solo homer Saturday, he had an RBI single and walked in four plate appearances.
“I really didn’t feel like I was swinging it all that bad the last couple of weeks,” Conforto said. “But [hitting coach] Chili [Davis] and I have been working on some things … just to allow my hands to stay on my natural path. That started [Friday].”
Jeurys Familia is expected to be activated off the 10-day injured list on Sunday, the first day the $30 million setup man is eligible to return after he was shut down on May 1 with a bone spur in his right shoulder.
Callaway said his bullpen usage largely will hinge on availability and matchups, but he insisted the Mets “do have faith in Familia,” and they believe the setup spot for closer Edwin Diaz “is going to be his ultimate role.”
Familia posted a 6.28 ERA over his first 14 appearances this season, allowing 10 earned runs on 16 hits with 13 walks in 14 ¹/₃ innings for a 2.02 WHIP.
“I think every time I go out there, I give 100 percent trying to do my job,” Familia said. “It’s part of the game. I think every player goes through that sometimes, a bad couple of days, bad days. You just have to continue to try and do my job, and one day it’s gonna be OK.”
Lefty reliever Justin Wilson was placed back on the IL with a recurrence of the left-elbow issue that shelved him in April. Righty Eric Hanhold was summoned from Triple-A Syracuse to take his roster spot. … Jed Lowrie (knee) went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Saturday night for Syracuse. Callaway said the Mets are relying on the veteran infielder to tell them when he feels he’s ready to be activated for the first time this season. … Steven Matz (forearm) was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, but it was pushed back to Sunday morning.