Syndergaard, Conforto test Mets’ injury jinx
Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard on Feb. 17, 2018 during a spring training workout in Port St. Lucie, FL. Credit: Newsday / Alejandra Villa
JUPITER, Fla. — At this point in spring training, the Mets just don’t want anybody to get hurt.
That’s why it was shocking to see Opening Day starter Noah Syndergaard leg out a triple after he threw 50 pitches in a minor-league exhibition game in Port St. Lucie.
And a half-hour away at Roger Dean Stadium, the Mets brass held their breath when centerfielder Michael Conforto dived for a ball in the left-centerfield gap in a game against the Cardinals. Conforto was playing the field for the first time in his second big-league exhibition game as he attempts to make the Opening Day roster after shoulder surgery.
Luckily for the usually unlucky Mets, Syndergaard and Conforto came out of their adventures unscathed.
Syndergaard admitted he “was a little gassed” after the stand-up triple to right. Conforto said he felt “absolutely fine” after what he called “a Superman-like dive” on Marcel Ozuna’s two-run double in the fifth inning.
Of his left shoulder, Conforto said: “I had no thoughts about it.”
Conforto played five innings in the field and went 0-for-2 with two walks. Manager Mickey Callaway said Conforto is “likely” to start the season on the disabled list. But that could change.
“At this point, he’s likely to be on the DL when we break camp,” Callaway said. “I can’t say that for a fact . . . When I say ‘likely’ for Conforto, there might be some value to having Conforto come off the bench and not having him play nine. We’ve just got to weight all that stuff.”
The Mets are holding up the final roster spot to see if Conforto can make it. If he can’t, they could take utilityman Phillip Evans — who has added emergency catcher to his resume — or it could be a 13th pitcher.
Syndergaard will be at Citi Field on March 29, of course. He hasn’t started a game there since April 20. It will be his second consecutive Opening Day start.
“I think I forgot what it feels like to pitch at Citi Field and feel the electricity that the Mets faithful bring every game,” Syndergaard said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Callaway did not know Syndergaard had tripled until he was told by a reporter.
“He hit a triple?” Callaway said. “I told him to bunt. Oh, boy. I didn’t want to know that.”
Extra bases
Wilmer Flores started in rightfield in the Mets’ 8-7 loss to the Cardinals . . . Steven Matz will start in the exhibition season finale against Miami on Sunday. The Mets will play their Triple-A Las Vegas affiliate on Monday before heading to New York.
Anthony Rieber covers sports media and business and professional sports (you know, games and trades and things). He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since Jan. 1, 2026.
