To say that Michael Conforto had a rough day on Wednesday, would be an understatement. The young outfielder went 0-6 while stranding four runners on base and striking out four times.
Not only has Conforto been held hitless in his last 14 at-bats, but he has looked flat-out perplexed at the plate. However, Conforto feels that he knows the problem and the solution.
” I think I am pressing a little bit and I think I need to take a deep breath and get back to what was working,” Conforto said. “That just starts with hard work and feeling confident.” (NY Post)
“I’m just getting away from my approach, going out of the zone. I’m not going to have success that way, so I just got to get back to what was working and keep working hard. I think the confidence is still there, that’s never going to be shaken.”
It is pivotal for Michael to get back to the approach that saw him successfully make the jump from Double-A to the Major Leagues. Sometimes when young players are struggling, they change too much of what has made them productive rather than just making gradual tweaks as the league adjusts to them.
“I’ve got to take a step back, take a look at what’s going on,” Conforto said. “Just kind of take a deep breath, slow down a little bit. …It’s easier said than done, but I can tell you I’m going to work hard and I’m going to get back to where I need to be.”
Bad players, good players, and great players all eventually get mired in a slump. Even ask Bryce Harper, who in the last 30 days is hitting an uncharacteristically poor .208/.444/.389. And just like Bryce Harper, Michael Conforto will eventually break out of his slump. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
