Michael Conforto’s Heating Up at the Plate

Between the injury and the down year at the plate, it’s safe to say thus far the 2021 season has not gone as planned for New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto.

Conforto missed five weeks with a hamstring strain, and hit just .202 with a .301 slugging percentage, .646 OPS, 46 strikeouts, three home runs, and seven doubles over 52 games in the first-half of the season.

While he mainly struggled, he did of course, end the first-half with back-to-back strong games at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In Game 2 last Saturday night, Conforto reached base all three times, drawing a trio of walks. He followed that up by picking up a pair of hits, including a three run shot in the Mets’ gut-wrenching 6-5 loss on Sunday afternoon.

Conforto then came out of the All-Star break strong, putting together two more strong performances.

In this past Saturday night’s walk-off loss, Conforto reached base twice with a pair of doubles. He then came through in the clutch, crushing a go-ahead two-run shot to dead center in the come from behind win on Sunday afternoon.

Conforto then kept the good times rolling in Monday’s series opening thrilling 15-11 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

With the Mets trailing 7-3 in the top of the fourth, Conforto jumped on a Vladimir Gutierrez fastball and crushed it to deep right field for a two-run shot. He cut the lead to 7-5 at the time, and the Mets of course went on to even things up and then eventually hold on for the win.

A couple of innings later, he worked the count full, and led off the top of the eighth with an opposite field single off of left-hander Josh Osich. Two pitches later, he came around to score on a go-ahead pinch-hit two-run home run off the bat of James McCann.

Then after Kevin Pillar crushed a clutch three-run bomb to extend the lead in the top of the eleventh, Conforto provided the Mets with some more insurance with his second home run of the game.

For Conforto, it was the 123rd and 124th home runs of his career, which broke a tie with Kevin McReynolds for ninth, and then tied Todd Hundley for eighth on the Mets’ all-time home run list.

On the night, he finished up 3-for-6 with two massive home runs and a clutch opposite field single. Conforto is now riding a three-game hitting streak, and he has reached base in six straight games.

“Every time he’s in the lineup, he lengthens it. His at-bats have always been quality at-bats as far as seeing pitches, as far as taking the right approach, as far as being a true professional hitter. His swing and his timing have gotten better,” Mets acting manager Dave Jauss said postgame.

Conforto’s hitting .364 with a .481 OBP, 1.481 OPS, he’s drawn five walks, four of his eight hits have been home runs, and he’s added a pair of doubles over his past seven games.

This recent hot stretch has risen Conforto’s average to .217, and he has a .352 OBP, .718 OPS, six home runs, nine doubles, and 24 RBI. The Mets certainly hope it is a sign of things to come for Conforto in the second-half.

If he can turn things around and become the middle of the order force Mets fans know and love, it’ll be huge for this Mets offense.

Him and the rest of the Mets will look to build off this offensive breakout and keep the good times rolling on Tuesday night as they take on left-hander Wade Miley and the Reds at Great American Ballpark.