By Rob Piersall
Michael Conforto, OF
Player Data: Age: 26, B/T: L/R
Primary Stats: 151 G, 648 PA, 33 HR, 92 RBI, 7 SB, 84 BB, 149 SO, .257 BA, .363 OBP, .494 SLG, .856 OPS
Advanced Stats: .290 BABIP, .358 wOBA, 126 wRC+, 127 OPS+, 3.7 fWAR, -3 DRS, -1.3 UZR
Free Agent: 2022
2019 Salary: $4.03 million
Grade: B
2019 Review
After five years in the league, Michael Conforto has had a roller coaster of a career already.
The Mets 2014 first round pick rocketed through the minor leagues and debuted in the summer of 2015 just as New York was about to make their playoff, and ultimate, World Series push.
The Oregon State product was up to the task, as he hit .270/.335/.506 with nine home runs through his first 56 games and even homered twice in the World Series that year.
2016 saw Conforto struggle mightily, which included a demotion to Triple-A in what was ultimately a lost season. However, the outfielder rebounded in 2017 before tearing his shoulder capsule in a freaky manner which raised concerns over his future and if he would ever be the same player again.
Some of those worries were settled in 2018, as after a rough start, Conforto rebounded to hit .243/.350/.448 with 28 homers and 82 RBI in 151 games.
As 2019 rolled around, Conforto became one of the veterans on a team that saw a lot of new faces make names for themselves.
Even through cold stretches, Conforto hit .257/.363/.494 with 33 home runs (career high) and 92 RBI (career high). He raised his wOBA up from last year (.342 to .358), his wRC+ (120 to 126) lowered his strikeout rate (24.9 percent to 23.0 percent) and finished with a higher fWAR (3.0 to 3.7). His BABIP was mostly in line with last years (.289 in 2018, .290 in 2019) and he drew the same amount of walks in 2018 and 2019 (84).
In the field, Conforto primarily played right field (1012.1 innings) and had 1 DRS and a 0.6 UZR. His overall fielding stats were bogged down by the 268.0 innings he played in central, where he had -4 DRS and a -1.9 UZR.
Overall though, Conforto has solidified his presence in the middle of the Mets’ lineup, has become a veteran presence in the clubhouse and will be a key component on a 2020 Mets team that hopes to build off their 86 win season in 2019 and make the playoffs.
2019 Key Moment
With a rocking Citi Field and a playoff like atmosphere in early August, the Mets squared off against the Washington Nationals, but fell behind 6-3 going into the ninth inning.
New York rallied to tie the game, and then Conforto came to the plate…
2020 Outlook
Conforto reached 30 home runs for the first time in his career, continued to get on base at a high clip and had an OPS over .800 for only the second full season of his career.
Entering his prime years, Conforto figures to be a fixture in the Mets lineup for the next two seasons before he hits free agency in 2022.
Projection: .265 BA, .370 OBP, .510 SLG, 38 HR, 102 RBI, 130 wRC+
