Michael Conforto will not play this season after shoulder surgery
Michael Conforto looks on from the dugout at Citi Field on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
PHOENIX — Michael Conforto, still a free agent, had surgery on his right shoulder last week and will not play this season, his agent, Scott Boras, revealed Saturday.
The former longtime Mets outfielder became one of the biggest mysteries of the offseason when he never signed with a team after the lockout ended in mid-March. It turned out he had hurt his shoulder in January, which resulted in this operation.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache, one of the top orthopedic surgeons in the country and the Dodgers’ head team physician, performed the surgery. He also repaired Conforto’s left shoulder in 2017, when he tore his posterior capsule.
“He is expected to make a full recovery and return to play in spring training 2023,” Boras said via text.
Conforto, who will be 30 next season, was a .255/.356/.468 hitter in seven seasons with the Mets. After he turned down their qualifying offer — a one-year, $18.4 million contract — in November, they signed Starling Marte to a four-year, $78 million deal to play rightfield.
“You don’t want any one of your friends or teammates to undergo surgery, especially as serious as shoulder surgery,” Pete Alonso said. “I wish Mike all the best and a speedy, healthy and full recovery.”
For the Mets, Conforto not signing with a club this year means they will not receive the additional draft choice (around No. 80 overall) that once looked like a guarantee. As part of the qualifying-offer system, the Mets would have been granted a compensation pick to make up for losing Conforto, as they received when Noah Syndergaard signed with the Angels (No. 75 overall).
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
