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          New York Mets

          Mets demote Michael Conforto to clear roster spot for Yoenis Cespedes

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterAug 1, 2015, 10:38 PM
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              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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          NEW YORK -- The arrival of Yoenis Cespedes has resulted in a return to the minors for 2014 first-round pick Michael Conforto.

          Conforto had a dramatic, four-hit game last Saturday in his second major league start, but since had been hitless in 12 at-bats. Overall, he hit .211 with three RBIs in 19 at-bats. He also walked three times and was hit by a pitch, giving him a .348 on-base percentage.

          Conforto's demotion is actually a promotion of sorts. He will report to Triple-A Las Vegas.

          Before Conforto's July 24 major league debut, he had been playing for Double-A Binghamton.

          The Mets delayed the announcement of Conforto's demotion until an hour before Saturday's game. Manager Terry Collins said the Mets first needed to evaluate the seriousness of a pinched nerve in fellow outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis' upper back, an injury that caused him to be unavailable Thursday and Friday.