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Mets sign top draft pick, OF Michael Conforto

By WTOP Staff

MIKE FITZPATRICK
AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Conforto already has an athletic pedigree and a Big Apple appetite. The New York Mets think he’s got a swing tailored to Citi Field, too.

Selected 10th overall in last month’s draft, Conforto signed with the Mets on Friday and was introduced at a news conference. The 21-year-old outfielder from Oregon State received a $2,970,800 bonus — the assigned value for his draft slot.

Wearing No. 88, Conforto took batting practice on the field with the big league team before the opener of a three-game series against Miami. The Mets said he will start his professional career with Class A Brooklyn in the short-season New York-Penn League.

“There’s no feeling like it,” Conforto said. “On the same field as people you used to idolize, it’s a very, very cool feeling. I’m definitely cherishing this day.”

Conforto batted .345 with seven home runs and 56 RBIs in 59 games this year during his junior season with the Beavers. He was the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year for the second straight season and the first three-time All-American in school history. He also is a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, given to the top college player in the United States, and the Golden Spikes Award, presented to the best amateur player in the country.

Looking to complement their stable of touted young arms, the Mets have drafted position players with their past four first-round picks. They also grabbed promising catcher Kevin Plawecki at No. 35 overall in 2012.

Amateur scouting director Tommy Tanous and the Mets like Conforto’s plate discipline and left-handed stroke. They think his gap-to-gap approach suits their spacious ballpark.

The 6-foot-2, 217-pound Conforto had a .504 on-base percentage this season, setting a school record with 55 walks, and a .547 slugging percentage. He batted .340 for his college career with 31 home runs and 179 RBIs in 182 games.

“Michael was obviously very highly rated throughout baseball and extraordinarily high on our draft board. We were concerned that he might not be available to us at 10. Ecstatic that he was,” general manager Sandy Alderson said. “From our point of view, his outstanding on-base approach as well as his left-handed swing and the power potential that he brings, sort of a natural fit for our organization and this ballpark.”

Still, it took a while for the Mets to get him signed. Represented by agent Scott Boras, Conforto completed his deal a week before the deadline for draftees who have not exhausted their college eligibility.

“The one thing I would address at the outset, however, is the question of why it took so long,” Alderson said. “And I think you only need to look at me on this end of the table and Scott Boras on the other end of the table to know that we’re probably two of the more stubborn people in the game, and that whatever delay occurred had absolutely nothing to do with Michael.”

Conforto grew up in a Seattle suburb emulating Ken Griffey Jr.’s sweet swing.

His mother, Tracie, was a gold medalist in solo and duet synchronized swimming in the 1984 Olympics and won silver in 1988. His father, Mike, played linebacker at Penn State under coach Joe Paterno in the late 1970s.

On draft night, Conforto said his father’s bad knees were one reason he chose baseball over football after he was a multisport star at Redmond High School in Washington.

“If he’s as good as everybody tells me, one of these days he’s going to make a fortune. And that’s because of the game of baseball,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “I’m anxious to see him play. I hope I get a chance to.”

Conforto said he’s enjoyed visiting the Freedom Tower and the Empire State Building during his first trip to New York. He and his father haven’t missed a meal, either.

“We’ve been eating a whole lot since we got here. We’re Italian, and we’ve had some really good Italian food. Usually you can only get that from family back home,” Conforto said. “I’m having a great time.”

Or, as his dad put it: “We’ve been eating our way through the city.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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