Michael Conforto’s return appears imminent.
The right fielder was initially expected to be activated off the injured list Tuesday in time for the Mets’ game against the Braves, according to acting general manager Zack Scott.
The team ended up holding off on making the roster move before first pitch because of COVID concerns, according to a statement from the Mets.
“Tonight’s Syracuse Mets game has been postponed to allow for additional testing and contact tracing of members of the Mets organization,” the statement said. “Due to Michael Conforto’s recent rehab stint with our Triple-A affiliate, and out of an abundance of caution, he was not activated for tonight’s game. He has tested negative tonight and the intention is for him to be activated prior to [Wednesday’s] game vs. Atlanta.”
Conforto has been on the injured list for five weeks with a right hamstring strain but played in three rehab games with Syracuse.
“He’s actually exceeded our expectations, hit all of our objective markers on his strength, his hamstring,” Scott said before the game. “He’s ready to go.”
The Mets initially did not provide a reason for Conforto not being activated, though Scott had said they would be watching the forecast.
Conforto’s arrival would be the Mets’ latest from an injured starting position player, after Jeff McNeil came back from his own hamstring strain Monday. McNeil played in five rehab games before being activated, but Scott said Conforto’s return was expedited by him passing all of his necessary tests.
“Some guys, you can push them to max sooner,” Scott said. “Other guys, we want to do it where we have a program. We want to progress them to hit the certain levels of intensity before they’re cleared to play. Michael just happened to hit them sooner [than McNeil].”
Before he hit the IL, Conforto was batting .230 with two home runs and a 97 OPS-plus in 33 games. His absence, along with center fielder Brandon Nimmo (plus a stretch without Kevin Pillar and Albert Almora Jr.), left the Mets outfield depth depleted last month.
Manager Luis Rojas said the Mets would be smart about easing Conforto back into the lineup.
“There is a plan,” Rojas said. “We have our performance staff talk to us and also talking to Michael, laying out what we’re expecting. We just don’t want to throw him in there and probably run him into immediate high workload, coming from a hamstring injury. He’s good, he’s in great shape. But we also don’t want to abuse him.”
Brandon Nimmo (torn ligament left hand) was scheduled to play his second rehab game Syracuse before the game was postponed. Scott had said Nimmo could advance to playing seven innings by Wednesday before reassessing his plan.
“He feels really good,” Scott said.
Infielder Jonathan Villar, who exited Monday’s nightcap with right calf discomfort, was not in the lineup for Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to the Braves. He underwent an MRI exam before the game. The results of which were not immediately disclosed.
RHP Robert Gsellman, who went on the injured list Monday, has a torn lat and will not throw for six weeks, according to Scott. Adding in time to build back up (if he is cleared to start throwing in six weeks), he could be out until September.
Third baseman J.D. Davis (left hand sprain) is doing a hitting progression and could start a rehab assignment “sometime in the next week or two,” Scott said.
The Mets claimed RHP Robert Stock off waivers from the Cubs and optioned him to Syracuse. The 31-year-old started against the Mets last week and gave up five runs in four innings.
The club also called up catcher Patrick Mazeika from Syracuse and optioned INF/OF Brandon Drury. Mazeika offered insurance for Tomas Nido, who was hit in the wrist by a pitch Monday.
Scott said the Mets have “not recently” had extension talks with pending free agents like Conforto and Marcus Stroman.