Mets’ Michael Conforto, Yankees’ Brandon Drury share past in Northwest
This Newsday composite image shows Mets outfielder Michael Conforto, left, and Yankees infielder Brandon Drury. Credit: Jim McIsaac; Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — They won’t be on the same field until June, when the Yankees visit the Mets for a three-game Subway Series.
But Mets outfielder Michael Conforto and Yankees third baseman Brandon Drury have been on the same field before. Starting as 11-year-olds, they played together on a travel team in the Pacific Northwest.
Conforto grew up in Seattle (population 704,352 as of 2016) and has a mother who was an Olympic athlete. He went to Oregon State and was the Mets’ first-round pick (10th overall) in 2014.
Drury grew up in Grants Pass, Oregon (population 37,779) and has a father who still throws him batting practice. He turned down Oregon State to play pro ball and was the Braves’ 13th-round pick (404th overall) in 2010.
They took different paths, but both 25-year-olds have arrived at the same place: New York. And based on what they saw of each other as youngsters, neither is surprised the other made it.
“I remember us having a doubleheader,” Conforto said. “We were, like, 11 years old. The rest of us were eating and horsing around and he was out on the field taking ground balls with his dad. Just working. He’s had that work ethic since that age. I still remember it and that’s the type of thing that rubs off on guys, I think. He’s a real focused guy. He’s focused on his job. He’s a great dude. Good guy to have around.”
Drury said he remembers Conforto having “ridiculous talent. Huge power. Good arm. He was — still is — definitely one of the more talented players. I just remember how talented that team was. I was always a solid player, but I was nothing like any of those guys at that time. I don’t think I had developed really yet or had the tools they had. I remember thinking, ‘Geez, these guys are really good.’ I think that’s what made me better — seeing how good they were. Kept me striving for more and kept me working hard every day and have that mindset to keep getting better.”
Said Conforto: “I guess that’s a compliment that he would say that I was kind of advanced. I felt the same way about him. He was probably our best infielder. He could swing the bat. It was a great team to be a part of.”
Drury, who came to the Yankees from Arizona in a three-team trade on Feb. 20, played third and second on the travel team. He was a shortstop in high school and played all around the infield after being drafted. He hit .198 as a 17-year-old in the Gulf Coast League before improving all the way to .347 in the Appalachian League the next season. Drury made the majors in 2015 and settled in as a regular with Arizona in 2016.
Conforto’s path to the majors was much quicker after college. He was in the bigs a year after getting drafted and played in the World Series as a rookie.
Even before college, Conforto kept tabs on Drury and vice versa. They played against each other when Drury was with Arizona. Now they will face off on June 8-10 at Citi Field and again on July 20-22 at Yankee Stadium.
“We would see each other from time to time,” Conforto said. “I would be in the Oregon area. He almost went to Oregon State. Saw him at a couple of showcases and stuff. I followed his path through the minor leagues. It’s pretty cool that we’re both in New York. It’ll be cool to see him at Yankee Stadium or Citi Field.”
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
