Brodie Van Wagenen Reveals Michael Conforto Has Oblique Strain

The injury bug is bouncing around the New York baseball scene at an imposing pace. The Yankees have had multiple stars go down with injuries, and it now looks like the Mets are in for it, too.

Mets outfielder Michael Conforto returned to New York for further evaluation on Monday after receiving an MRI at Spring Training in Port St. Lucie, and the diagnosis he received was a strained right oblique. The news was confirmed by general manager Brodie Van Wagenen Tuesday.

If this were last year or two years ago, such a development would be considered highly troublesome for the Mets. However, they have more depth heading into 2020 than in any other season in recent memory.

If Conforto were to miss Opening Day, they'll have a plethora of options to turn to. Dominic Smith is going to have to be pushed to an outfield spot in order to keep Pete Alonso at first base, so it seems right to have him take over for Conforto. In centerfield, Brandon Nimmo is likely to see a starting role and have former Houston Astro Jake Marisnick as his backup guy. In left, if Yoenis Cespedes isn't ready by Opening Day, that role will probably end up going to JD Davis, who had a breakout campaign in 2019. If Smith doesn't immediately take Conforto's spot, any of these other outfielders could.

With the possible absence of Conforto at the beginning of the season, expect to see a different look in the Mets' outfield come Opening Day 2020.