Mets: Michael Conforto to start swinging a bat in late January

We can all take a deep sigh of relief as Michael Conforto‘s rehab is going well.

The Mets got some great news on Wednesday regarding Michael Conforto’s recovery this offseason. According to a new report from Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Conforto is on track to be back on the field for Spring Training next season as his rehab from shoulder surgery has progressed quite well early on.

Conforto’s representatives told Sherman that the Mets 2017 All-Star is “working out regularly” and should be ready to swing a bat in late January. After that, it’s basically all on the Mets to decide how to proceed with him in the spring.

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Sherman notes that the Mets could limit his at bats at first to make sure he’s fully healed, and ease him back into more consistent play. That could impact his availability for Opening Day, however.

I think most of us would agree that even though it would seriously suck to see him miss Opening Day, it’s even more important that the team and Conforto be 100% of his status and how he feels before the long grind of the season gets put under his belt.

The 24-year-old outfielder had surgery in September to repair a tear in the posterior capsule of his left shoulder. That injury was arguably the worst in a season that saw Wilmer Flores suffer a broken nose on a foul tip, and Yoenis Cespedes manage to pull both hamstrings in his legs over a span of a few weeks.

The good news for Conforto comes just as the Mets offseason work begins. The organization will have to think long and hard about what they want to do in the outfield for 2018. Do they stand pat and not keep looking into guys like Lorenzo Cain hoping that Juan Lagares and Conforto are enough? This latest development will surely encourage the team, but it shouldn’t change their plans to address the outfield holes that have popped up.

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At this point, Conforto’s health can be planned for but shouldn’t be counted on as heavily as you could when he was fully healthy. He’ll be a great boost when he returns, but Sandy, bring in more reinforcements, please.