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Conforto may open season with Mets thanks to Lagares' injury

Kim Klement / Reuters

It wasn't too long ago that the New York Mets were trying to trade Jay Bruce due to an over-saturation of outfielders on their big-league roster, but now, with their depth being tested due to injuries, Michael Conforto may end up making the team to begin the season.

After Juan Lagares, who was expected to begin the season as the team's fourth outfielder, left Saturday's contest against the Atlanta Braves with an oblique strain, manager Terry Collins named Conforto as someone who could fill in.

"If Juan's hurt, Mike's the best option we have to go out and play some center field," Collins told reporters, including MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.

Related: Collins 'very concerned' with Lagares' oblique strain

Before injuries to Lagares and Brandon Nimmo - who suffered a pulled hamstring at the World Baseball Classic - Conforto appeared to be destined to begin the season at Triple-A so that he could get everyday at-bats, but without a fourth outfielder available behind Yoenis Cespedes, Jay Bruce, and Curtis Granderson, the 24-year-old may have to step up.

Conforto, normally a left-fielder, has just six games of big-league experience in center field, compared to the 425 games in center by the 2014 Gold Glove winner Lagares.

After an impressive rookie debut in 2015, which included a .841 OPS in 56 games, Conforto appeared in 109 games for the Mets last season, hitting .220/.310/.414 with 12 home runs and 42 RBIs in 348 plate appearances.

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