Michael Conforto Showing Signs of Life at the Plate
Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
After a forgettable start to the 2021 season, New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto finally showed some signs of life at the plate in this weekend’s series win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
Heading into the series, Conforto was riding an 0-for-16 slump, and had just three hits in 25 at-bats on the season.
During the three-game set, the sweet-swinging lefty put together a 4-for-10 effort with just two strikeouts and his first extra-base hit of the season. Conforto ripped a few hard line-drives, and was hitting the ball to all fields, as usual.
Following Sunday afternoon’s 2-1 win, Conforto told reporters he feels he’s been taking much better at-bats and things are definitely heading in the right direction at the plate.
“Everyday it’s a little better, and like we keep saying try to have quality at-bats and do something that helps the team win. Pass the baton and move guys when you need to and do things situationally, so I think we’re getting there,” Conforto said.
Mets manager Luis Rojas certainly feels the same way about his slugger who looks like he is about to turn the corner at the plate.
“He is staying on the ball well and separating and he’s been able to extend his arms. He’s laying off pitches too. We’ve been able to see him and that he coming along,” Rojas said.
Conforto added that along with Rojas and the rest of the coaching staff, he has a lot of great teammates helping him work through the early season struggles. He explained one of the big things he’s focused on is getting more balanced and on-time at the plate.
“I have been taking good at-bats. I just feel more balanced at the plate, it just got me on time. Before I look at any mechanical things, I just want to make sure I am on time and in a place to hit, and that is really all we’ve focused on,” Conforto said.
Conforto will look to carry this success into the Mets’ three game set at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. Depending on the weather, he is scheduled to start things off on Tuesday night against Jake Arrieta, who he has two homers and a .927 OPS against in his career.
If Conforto could get things going at the plate, it would provide a significant boost to the middle of this struggling Mets lineup.
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