Mets: Injury to Michael Conforto is a two out of ten on the panic level scale

New York Mets right fielder Michael Conforto may not be ready to open the season due to an oblique injury. The panic level for this is still just a two out of ten.

You didn’t think the New York Mets could escape spring training without at least one major injury, did you? Over the weekend, Michael Conforto injured his oblique on a defense play now putting his availability for Opening Day in question.

This isn’t anything new for Conforto. Believe it or not, he has only started on Opening Day twice in his career. Last season’s start in right field is his first in the field. Back in 2016, the Mets opened the year against the Kansas City Royals and used him as the DH.

Losing Conforto for any period of time is a downer for the Mets. Since moving on from Carlos Beltran and accepting Steve Cohen wasn’t coming in as the owner, there has been nothing but good vibes around the team.

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For the most part, the Mets have been healthy this spring. Some remaining injuries—most notably the ones to Yoenis Cespedes and Jed Lowrie—are still lingering. There’s also Dellin Betances whose status remains somewhat questionable.

Fortunately, the team is well-equipped to survive any absence from Conforto. Already, fans are putting together their ideal defensive alignments sans Scooter.

Most of those lineups include Dominic Smith in left field and J.D. Davis either in right field or at third base with Jeff McNeil at the other spot.

This isn’t so bad from an offensive standpoint. It’s the defense which should have you, me, and everyone else we know a little worried.

The team’s defense was already a concern even with Conforto in the lineup. Without him, the Mets will be weaker in at least one other place regardless of the direction they go.

The good news is it doesn’t seem like Conforto will miss significant time. It’s the kind of injury that could delay his 2020 debut but shouldn’t hold him back.

We know better than to expect him to return on time. Injuries have a way of lasting longer than expected.

In this instance, the initial call on Conforto seems to have him set for a return after only a short stint on the IL—if at all.

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Conforto has time before Opening Day to heal up. The only thing to worry about is a lack of timing which could be the lone delay in seeing him embark on a new season. Other than this, my panic level is just a two out of ten.