PORT ST. LUCIE — Michael Conforto’s abnormal spring took a turn toward the normal Friday as he stepped into the batter’s box in a competitive situation for the first time.

The setting was a back field at the Mets spring training complex and the opponent was a minor league team, but that was enough of a step for Conforto, just over six months removed from left-shoulder surgery.

Conforto took four at-bats as the designated hitter and went 0-for-2 with two walks, beginning what he hopes will be an uninterrupted string of games — save for the occasional day off — leading up to his Mets return.

“It was a good step in the right direction, see some pitches and actually have a competitive situation,” Conforto said. “I thought I swung at strikes, that was my main goal coming in, to make sure I was swinging at strikes, get good habits from the beginning.”

Conforto admitted his timing is off, which should have been expected in his first game. He plans to play in another minor league game Saturday, perhaps with action in the outfield for the first time. The goal is to get Conforto back as quickly as possible without cutting corners, but neither the organization nor player will speculate if Conforto might return before the May 1 timetable that has been set.

Certainly there is optimism Conforto will be ahead of schedule just based on the progress he’s made over a month in camp.

“I am very encouraged,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “At one point in time we wouldn’t have thought he would be in a minor league game taking real at-bats, so he is in a really good spot now.”

Conforto’s goal is to play in a major league exhibition game before the Mets head north March 26. He would then remain in Florida for extended spring training before likely beginning a minor league rehab assignment.

Last year Conforto said he received about 60 at-bats to prepare for the season but indicated that number could fluctuate now given his rehab.

Conforto dislocated the shoulder on a swing last August and tore his posterior capsule in the process. He spent the winter undergoing a rigorous rehab after opting for the surgery, which he says will help prevent future dislocations.

“As far as how the shoulder feels I haven’t felt anything in there, so that tells me I have been doing things the right way,” Conforto said. “I have definitely done enough shoulder stuff to make sure of that and I have done everything the surgeon and our team doctor, our physical therapist, we have done it by the book and obviously it has turned out the right way, so I am happy with where it’s at right now.”

The Mets are expecting to begin the season with some combination of Brandon Nimmo and Juan Lagares in center field, but that plan could be short-lived if Conforto continues this progression.

As much as the Mets like Lagares’ defense and are intrigued by Nimmo, who has been among the team’s top Grapefruit League performers, Conforto was the club’s only All-Star last season, when he posted a .279/.384/.555 slash line with 27 homers and 68 RBIs.

“They don’t want me looking too far ahead,” Conforto said, referring to his timetable. “They don’t want me looking at May 1. This is the day I have got to be ready. Maybe sooner and maybe later, so we take it one day at a time.”