The tenth overall pick in the 2014 amateur draft has earned positive reviews from coaches and scouts alike.
21-year-old outfielder Michael Conforto entered the Mets organization with high expectations at the plate. According to a report from Mike Vorkunov of The Star Ledger, he has met these expectations over his first several months at the professional level. In 182 at-bats with the Low-A Brooklyn Cyclones, the Oregon State product has hit .340/.412/.458, adding three home runs and 19 RBI. Perhaps more importantly, though, Mets coaches and scouts have been impressed with his approach at the plate. Cyclones manager Tom Gamboa said:
"It's just rare to see that kind of selectivity in somebody that is so young. Everything we had heard - he was one of the college hitters in the country - has proved to be true in pro ball."
Mets scouting director Tommy Tanous added:
"This kid knows the zone, he’ll take walks, he has power, things like that."
The praise for Conforto has not just been confined to the Mets organization. After a Cyclones win last week in which Conforto had an RBI single, Amazin Avenue's Kevin Cassidy referred to Conforto as a man amongst boys, and stated that he was more advanced than most players at his level.
More surprisingly, Conforto, who is viewed as a below-average defensive player, has been impressive in left field. Vorkunov, in his article, said the following:
"Gamboa raves about his hitting approach and boasts about Conforto’s defense in left field. A shortstop in high school, he struggled in his transition to the outfield at Oregon State, earning a poor reputation. In Brooklyn, he is building a better one."
The Mets consider themselves lucky to have drafted Conforto, as the team's scouting department was skeptical the outfielder would fall to the tenth pick. When the Rockies passed on him with eighth pick, the team knew they had their man. Sandy Alderson has hinted that Conforto may not spend the whole 2014 season in Brooklyn, and Gamboa believes the future is not very far away for the young outfielder. With the current hitting situation in the team's outfield, we're all hoping he's right.