Confident Conforto: I'm Ready To Play For Mets
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Bring me up, coach.
That was the message Sunday from the Mets' top position prospect, Michael Conforto, to general manager Sandy Alderson.
"I feel ready. I feel I am confident," Conforto told the Daily News prior to the Futures Game at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, also the site of this week's MLB All-Star Game festivities. "I think there are some things I need to work on.
"I need to get better in the outfield. My approach needs some work. I have to be able to adapt quicker, as quick as possible. But every day I play in the minor leagues I am getting better," he added.
Conforto, who is ranked 14th on Baseball America's list of the majors' midseason top prospects, went 2-for-2 and threw out a runner at the plate during the U.S. team's 10-1 victory over the World team on Sunday.
The 10th overall pick in the 2014 Amateur Draft out of Oregon State, Conforto is hitting 312 with an on-base percentage of .394 for Double-A Binghamton. Though he's yet to put up power numbers (three homers, 21 RBIs), he has the potential to be a premier contact hitter in the majors, according to baseball insiders.
Winners of four straight and seven of nine, the Mets (47-42) have struggled to score runs all season, but yet somehow find themselves just two games out of first place in the NL East. Fans have been screaming for Conforto's promotion to the big club for a while, something he said he appreciates.
"Well it's cool to be on the prospect called-up side of that," Conforto said. "I never really thought I'd be in the biggest market in sports, and once I did get drafted by the Mets it was awesome. Now to be called on by the sports fans of New York, that's pretty cool and to be in New York papers, that's awesome.
"I can't really get wrapped up in that though," Conforto added. "I have to worry about my performance."
Alderson has said he's considered bringing Conforto up, but is leaning toward keeping the 22-year-old outfielder in the minors for a while longer.
"The people who make those decisions, they will let me know when they think I am ready. And then I will be ready to go up there," Conforto said.
