Mets might start Michael Conforto in Low-A, which would be “stupid”

Michael Conforto went 3-for-4 on Saturday during his first Grapefruit League game, during which a report emerged that the Mets are unsure at which minor league level Conforto will open the 2015 season.

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, the Mets are currently debating whether to start Conforto with Low-A Savannah or High-A St. Lucie.

After being picked by the Mets 10th overall in last year’s draft, Conforto, 22, hit .331/.403/.448 in 163 at bats spanning 43 games for Short-Season (A) Brooklyn before a late-season promotion to Savannah where he had only a cameo.

When asked about the Mets debating where to start Conforto, Keith Law of ESPN had the following to say:

Here’s what Baseball America thought of Conforto before the draft:

"Conforto ranks as the best present hitter in the 2014 draft….Conforto has present strength and above-average bat speed. He has controlled his aggressiveness as a junior, taming a swing that got too big over the summer with Team USA. … He has plus raw power and should project to hit 20-25 [homeruns] annually."

Thoughts:

Conforto is 22 years old, viewed as an incredibly advanced and mature hitter, and is someone who already completed a college career and tore up the lower minors.

As Law notes, starting Conforto with Low-A Savannah would be stupid. More than that, it would be a complete waste of his time.

While Law says that the Mets can justify starting Conforto with High-A St. Lucie, I agree with his assertion that Conforto should be sent to Double-A Binghamton to begin the year.

The Mets don’t have an immediate need for a corner outfielder, where Conforto will be, but this is all about doing what’s right for his development.

Even though the Mets are reportedly debating it, I’d be shocked if Conforto opens with Low-A Savannah. It simply wouldn’t make any sense.

The guess here is that Conforto opens with St. Lucie and gets promoted to Binghamton after the first half of the season.