NEWYORK – Michael Conforto was able to imagine it.
Share hugs, hand slaps with old teammates. Chat with security guards and waiters in the club. Walk through the familiar Citi Field tunnel, but this time remember to keep going, right into the guest’s clubhouse.
Conforto, wearing a black sweater with unspelled orange letters New York Mets, circled the date on his calendar. The San Francisco Giants will play the Mets on June 30 at Citi Field. His eyes light up when he remembers he’s going back to Queens this year because, Conforto admits, he still remembers that settled feeling from his eight-year chapter with the Mets.
He wants it to end and he’s excited to get it – no matter how emotional he may be on that early Friday night that summer when the Giants return to town. Conforto, who can’t help but feel nostalgic while in New York this past weekend, hopes returning to Queens will feel like homecoming.
“I’ll be back there this year,” Conforto said Saturday at Yankee Stadium. “It’s going to bring it all back. And just to see the fan base again. Obviously they’re special to me and I feel like they’ve been really fair to me as well. I’ve never had any. any form of hostility towards them. I’m excited to be back and to be back in that atmosphere.”
It’s hard to blame Conforto for wanting the Mets to close. just look at Dodgers first sentinel Freddie Freemanwho was emotional last year when he returned to Atlanta for the first time and played against brave. Freeman compared the experience to “a two-ton rock on my shoulder.” The former National League MVP is committed and loyal to the Dodgers for at least the next four years. But, for so many reasons, Freeman will always make Atlanta his home.
Likewise, the Mets will always have a special place in Conforto’s heart to recruit and develop him. The Oregon State production was picked in 10th place overall in the 2014 draft and then scored just 589 underage appearances before making its major league debut the following year, ultimately beat three home runs, including twice in the 2015 World Series, in the Mets’ deep playoff run.
“When I’m there, I think I’ll always be there,” Conforto said of his time with the Mets. “And I think a lot of guys feel that way with their first time, especially when they form a team. There was a time when I thought I’d always be there. But obviously we’re here. here. I feel really lucky to be where I am. Everything has been going great so far with the Giants. I just feel welcome here with open arms.”
The past few years have been a steep climb for Conforto – full of ups and downs, shoulder surgery and a missed season. His worst season at Queens was also his last. Conforto dropped 0.259/.358/.484 with 128 OPS+ in his first six seasons with the Mets, followed by an atypical season at the league average, in which he had to tackle problems health problems related to COVID-19 and subsequently, sidelined for more than a month of 2021 with hamstring strain. He posted exactly 100 OPS+ on average and dropped a career low of 0.384.
On top of free agency, Conforto’s first sub-campaign was enough to garner a one-year $18.4 million qualified offer from the Mets, nothing more, nothing less. The Mets’ fan base is indifferent to the idea of signing him long-term, given the lousy results he just posted and the maximum contract his agent, Scott Boras, has. may require. Conforto, despite his slumping year, has joined the free agency as one of the best players – along with starling bird And Nick Castellanos – in the context of weak external markets.
Conforto turned down the Mets’ qualifying offer, which came as no surprise to Luis Rojas. The former Mets captain, Conforto’s manager during his last season at Queens, says he has a pretty good idea that Conforto will explore free agency, but he also thinks Conforto will come back with Mets then, à la Brandon Nimmofor the first time as a free agent this past season. But Conforto’s homegrown Mets journey doesn’t end with a long-term deal. The Mets continued, signing Marte as his right substitute and adding Mark Canha to fortify their outfield. Conforto went deep into the owner’s box when, a week before Opening Day, Boras revealed Conforto injured his shoulder playing catch in January. He underwent season-ending surgery in April.
“His last home game, I felt so bad, I almost wanted to pull him off the pitch, but he was so emotional,” Rojas recalls. “I wanted to keep him there and finish the game for real. At that time I also believed he would return to the Mets as well. It was possible to test free agent and come back, but it didn’t work out the way it did. So .
“The plan he and Scott had at the time was to go to market and test free agent. That’s what a lot of players did and I don’t see why he wouldn’t do that. And then it all turned out like it was almost like it was a bad decision, but i respect his decision i know it went bad because he lost the season, but now he’s back And I’m sure he’ll do great things in this game.”
Conforto signed the Giants to a two-year, $36 million deal in early January, shortly after San Francisco lost free agents. Carlos Correa And Judge Aaron. Even though the midfielder has moved on, Conforto’s impact on the Mets can still be seen in New York. A young Mets fan, 16-year-old Cole Stein from Westchester, NY, wore his blue and orange No 30 Conforto shirt to Yankee Stadium on Saturday. Conforto was Stein’s favorite player on the Mets and, as a left-hander, he modeled his swing after the main wrestler. Stein said he will always support Conforto succeed, no matter where the midfielder plays. He is looking forward to the reception Conforto will receive when the Mets host the Giants in June.
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While the Mets prep the former All-Star tribute video with a sweet left turn they drafted nearly a decade ago, Conforto is looking to take on a leadership role with the Giants similar to the one they’ve played. he was in the Mets club. His 2023 start — after raking in spring traininghe won 1 to 12 in the opening series of the season when the Giants lost 2/3 first U.S army – just reinforces such purpose.
Conforto, 30, said: “I feel like I’ve been here a long time. “I have experience and I think I can help a lot of people with some of the things that I’ve been through. I’ve seen it all. I’m the #1 pick, I’m a potential customer, I’m the number one choice. “I used to be someone who had a great rookie season, I’ve had bad years, I’ve had All-Star seasons. Any scenario, I see and get over it. So I fully commit here. I love this group of boys and I feel like we can win a lot of football games.”
Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. Previously, she covered the Mets for 3.5 seasons as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. She never misses a single Rafael Nadal match, no matter what country or time zone he plays in. Sleep can always be sacrificed for sport. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
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