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Born: Orlando, Florida
Age: 22 (2/14/97)
Height/Weight: 5’9”/160 lbs.
Position: 2B
Bats/Throws: R/R
School: Eckerd College (St. Petersburg, Florida)
If the name sounds familiar, it should: Nick’s grandfather, Guy, has been in baseball since the 1980s, and coached in the Mets’ minor league system and at the major league level. Born in 1997, Nick’s formative years came in the 2000s, when his grandfather was with the team. As a result, Nick Grew up a Mets fan. In June 2015, when he graduated from Dr. Phillips High School in Orland, he was faced with what would seem like a tough choice: attend Eckerd College, a private liberal arts college in St. Petersburg, Florida, or signed with the team that he rooted for, as the Mets selected him in the 40th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. In the end, the four-year letter winner elected to go to college, turning the Mets down. An All-Conference player, team MVP, and Offensive Player of the Year, he could do much better for himself going to school and rejoining the draft in the future.
In his freshman year, Conti appeared in 39 games for the Tritons, starting 31 of them. He accrued 116 at-bats and hit .267/.352/.422, hitting 3 home runs, stealing 3 bases, walking 15 times and striking out 33 times. In 2017, his sophomore year, he appeared in 49 games and hit .366/.469/.497, leading the team in most offensive categories. He hit 3 home runs, stole 10 bases, walked 28 times, and struck out 37 times. Conti had a down year in 2018, hitting .223/.349/.366 in 47 games with 5 home runs, 2 stolen bases, 26 walks, and 34 strikeouts. Having gone undrafted in the 2018 MLB Draft, he returned to school in 2019 to finish out his degree. He appeared in 46 games for the Tritons and hit .298/.396/.394, hitting 2 home runs, stealing 1 base, walking 19 times, and striking out 27 times.
Conti stands square at the plate, with his hands held high. He swings with a slight leg kick with a swing that isn’t quite rotational. He squares up well thanks to excellent hand-eye coordination and strong wrists, and is able to spray the ball to all fields. At 5’9”, 160 pounds, he is unlikely to add much power to his frame, limiting his power potential to line drives rather than home runs.
Defensively, he has smooth infield actions, including soft hands and a strong arm. His range is below average, limiting him to second base, but thanks to his strong arm- he has been clocked in the low-80s- he has the capability to play shortstop in limited bursts without being much of a defensive liability.