But Confortos words and actions in September especially a red-eyed press conference following the Mets home finale Sept. 30 made it clear he was ready to test free agency and prepared to leave New York. The fact that people are looking for lefty bats makes him even more appealing.. Kulpa admitted as much following the contest. While his father, Mike, was a linebacker at Penn State, his mother, Tracie, was an Olympic synchronized swimmer who took home two gold medals at the Los Angeles games in 1984 and a silver medal in Seoul in 1988. Left shoulder dislocation. "They don't want to pitch around me and kind of just give me a free pass, so I think I'm getting more pitches in the zone, getting maybe a few more fastballs here and there.". 20,963rd in major league history) "I'm being protected by one of the best hitters in the game," Conforto said. "I really do. Strained right hamstring. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. If Conforto was hoping to get some help from the Mets' broadcasting booth, that wasn't going to happen. Made his first Opening Day rosterWas with New York from Opening Day-June 25, July 18-August 12 and from September 1-end of the seasonHit a career-high 12 homersSeven of his 12 home runs either gave the Mets the lead or tied the gameHad 17 home runs through his first 100 games as a Met, tied for the third-most in team history behind Darryl Strawberry (22) and David Wright (20)Batted .365 (27-74) with 11 doubles, four home runs, 18 RBI and 15 runs scored in 21 games during AprilHit .174 (40-230) with 10 doubles, eight home runs, 24 RBI and 23 runs scored in 88 games from May through the remainder of the seasonHad six consecutive games with a double from April 24-30, tying a franchise record by Joe Christopher from August 14-18, 1964..Had a career-best 17 game on base streak from April 10-30Batted .377 (23-61) with a .443 OBPHit a three-run homer on Sept. 23 vs. Philadelphia, his first since going deep on August 7 at DetroitFinished the game 2-3 with three RBI, matching a career-high (fifth time)Over his final 12 games dating to Sept. 18, Conforto went 7-23 (.304) with two doubles, one homer, eight RBI and six runs scoredHit .422 (54-128) with eight doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 28 RBI and 30 runs scored in 33 games with Las Vegas (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League. RUPete. So far, he's played one game, he played football at Penn State and helped his mother train for the Olympics. The field last night was Citi, and his son had just gone 4-for-4 in his second big-league game. I just spoke to umpire Ron Kulpa as a pool reporter. A series of debilitating knee injuries limited his potential and kept him in the trainers' room for much of his senior season in '78. "Michael was a pretty emotional football player, and is a very composed baseball player, with little sparks of football intensity you will see from time to time," his father said. Biggest Influence in your young career: Both my parents.I think with my mom, she obviously was in a different type of sport, but she knew how hard you needed to work to become the best in the world at something that you wanted to do and something you enjoyed. Relaxed aggression, smart intensity. "It was really painful for the next five weeks, but there was no way I was coming out, because we were trying to make the playoffs," he said. IRON MIKE: METS PROPSECT CONFORTO HAS TOUGHNESS TO SPARE. In 2017, Conforto made the All-Star team and hit .279 with 27 homers, 68 RBIs and an OPS+ of 148 before suffering what was initially feared to be a career-altering dislocated left shoulder. WebLettered two years in football as a quarterback and free safety Named second-team all-state in football. College: Oregon State. A decade before he began a promising professional baseball career with the New York Mets, Michael Conforto was afforded a lens into his father's athletic past. "He's got friends who played in the NFL who are now kind of starting to feel the effects of all that, all the collisions," the younger Conforto said. He's got it," Mets manager Terry Collins said. Even the team's broadcasters thought Conforto should have been ruled out on the play. BINGHAMTON Haggard town, run-down ballpark. ", The elder Conforto was never a starter but played on two teams that finished among the top five in the nation, in 1977 and 1978. If the play looked bizarre in real time, well, that's because something else may have been going on. In slow motion, it definitely looks like Conforto deliberately stuck out his elbow so he would get hit by the pitch. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. ", No, the Phillies are not terrible, tank you very much. Conforto, whose Dad played college football at Penn State and whose Mom was an Olympic swimmer, has always carried himself with a maturity and self-awareness beyond his years. You can't pitch him a certain way. Michael Conforto spent the first seven years of his career under the bright lights of Citi Field, dealing with all of the scrutiny that comes with playing for the Mets. They were five rows behind home plate Saturday night, in David Wright's seats, taking in a thoroughly remarkable Game 2 of Michael the Met's big-league career one in which the most anemic offense on earth morphed into the '27 Yankees, spanking out 21 hits, including home runs from one of the newest Mets, Kelly Johnson, and Daniel Murphy and two from Lucas Duda. pic.twitter.com/wUXncHd4t1, USA Synchro (@USASynchro) September 30, 2014, I was a football guy first because of my dad, Michael Conforto said. He was hit by a pitch above an eye during a youth game, sending him to an emergency room and leaving a small hairless area in his right eyebrow that remains visible. (Age 22-145d, Its been a dream. Did a quick google search and found his signature on a statement supporting Paterno. They quickly came to their senses and instead opened a gym, where Mike met his now ex-wife and Michael's mother, Tracie Ruiz, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in synchronized swimming at the 1984 Olympics. He tied for seventh in the league with 65 hitsTied for sixth in the NL with seven HBPRanked 11th in the NL with 40 runs scoredLed Mets position players and ranked 13th in the NL with 2.0 fWARHad seven game-winning RBI, tied for second in the NLLed the National League with six outfield assists and did not commit a single error in 438.1 innings in right fieldBatted .326 (31-95) in August and .329 (26-79) in SeptemberWas one of seven major leaguers to hit .325 or better in both full months of the seasonBecame the fourth player in Mets history to qualify for the batting title and hit .300/.400/.500 or betterPlayed in each of the Mets' first 53 games before hamstring tightness sidelined him for six of the club's final seven games of the seasonRanked fifth in the majors with a .344 average (44- 128) vs. RHPsHad a .960 OPS against rightiesOwned a career-best .870 OPS against LHPHad four homers in 74 AB vs. LHP (had six homers in 174 AB vs. southpaws in 2019)Had a career-best 12-game hitting streak from Aug. 3-15 and a career-best 23-game on-base streak from the end of 2019-Aug. 15. The umpires reviewed the play, but allowed it to stand. The recovery took up the majority of his offseason, and he has since admitted he may not have been patient enough with his rehab process -- perhaps evidenced by how poorly his 2018 season started. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. So he had to get all his A material out of the way the general managers meetings three weeks ago. In order to take action, MLB would have to review the play and determine Conforto deliberately stuck out his elbow to get hit. The Mets optimism about the player only has increased since they procured Conforto for a $2,970,800 signing bonus. The mindset his parents imbued: Work hard, have a competitive edge on the field, and don't let anyone have a mental edge over you. "My approach is the same everywhere I go," the son said. The Paterno family, members of Penn State's board of trustees and faculty and former players and coaches filed their suit last month alleging unlawful conduct by the Join our linker program. bac2therac; Mar 6, 2022; Men's Basketball; Replies 35 Views 1K. Combine his own competitive pedigree with that of Michael's mother, the former Tracie Ruiz, an Olympic gold medalist in synchronized swimming (she is divorced from Michael's father), and you would have an insight into how Michael the Met got here ahead of his time. New York Mets placed LF Michael Conforto on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, 2018. Born: Given Conforto's success, mom has even lightened up on the motivational messages. Conforto, whose Dad played college football at Penn State and whose Mom was an Olympic swimmer, has always carried himself with a maturity and self-awareness "You remember all those times on all those fields when he was five and six years old," the father said. Mike, who walked on at Penn State, hails from Altoona, where many of his relatives still live. GAME 30 Penn State: Hanging on a Heart Attack. '", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. At one of his gyms, Conforto trained a swimmer named Tracie Ruiz, who proceeded to win two gold medals in the 1984 Olympics and a silver in the 1988 Games for synchronized swimming. I love my teammates and theyve made me feel very welcome. As a Boras client and the Mets player rep as well as a big-name free agent one tier below the Scherzers, Seagers and Marcus Semiens of the world Conforto is a prime candidate to wait out a potentially cold market until he gets what he and Boras believe to be fair market value. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Its a decision, and a dilemma and a player the Mets are thrilled to have. Consistency is huge. Conforto grew up on tales of the late 1970s Nittany Lions and their trips to the Gator, Fiesta and Sugar Bowls. The Marlins are likely furious about the loss. The responsibility falls to Kulpa to make that call, making it hard for MLB to do anything to Conforto or the Mets. He admitted he didn't call it correctly: The guy was hit by the pitch in the strike zone. "Joe would always tell us that you're never as good as you think you are when things are going well, and you're never as bad as you think you are when you're not performing very good," dad said. We were very pleased. I actually got to see him early on his sophomore year. He went to the College World Series in 2013, in his sophomore year at Oregon State. vs. LAD 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB, Rookie Status: As a freshman at Oregon State, he fouled a pitch off his right shin during batting practice before a game against Stanford. 17 overall prospect in the Draft named Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Year in 2012 & Player of the Year in 2013 hit .345 with 7 HR, 16 2B, 2 3B, 56 RBIs and a .504 OBP. WebView Mike Confortos profile on LinkedIn, the worlds largest professional community. Reports on his defense are mixed, but most observers believe he can hit plenty enough to justify his corner outfield position. LF Michael Conforto assigned to St. Lucie Mets from Savannah Sand Gnats. R. R. Mike Conforto was a linebacker on Penn State teams that went to the Gator, Fiesta and Sugar Bowls in the late 1970s, and he passed on many of coach Joe Paterno's favorite sayings. A Washington Post story off the game described him as "immovable." Michael Conforto may have stuck his elbow out over the plate to win the game. You try to find that balance between challenging the player and having them in a spot where he can be successful, DePodesta said. July 24, 2015 (Mike Stobe/Getty Images), FOLLOW THE DAILY NEWS SPORTS ON FACEBOOK. Scooter, Forto are nicknames for Michael Conforto. His father, Mike is an Italian American who played inside linebacker at Penn State. Heres what you need to know about Conforto: FAST FACTSBirthdate: March 1, 1993 (Age 30 in 2023)Primary position: OFHeight/weight: 6-foot-1, 215 lbs.Bats/throws: Left/rightPlace of birth: SeattleSchool(s): Redmond (Wash.) HS; Oregon StateDrafted: 1st round (10th), 2014, by MetsMLB debut: July 24, 2015Qualifying offer: Received one in '21; declined, THE NUMBERS2021: .232/.344/.384 (101 OPS+), 14 HR, 0.9 WAR* in 125 GCareer: .255/.356/.468 (124 OPS+), 132 HR, 15.7 WAR in 757 G*Per Baseball-Reference; did not play in 2022. He makes a lot of solid contact. Posted by Mark Wogenrich at 12:21:39 PM on June 17, 2013. Third-ranked Mets prospect Michael Conforto was called up by the big club this week, making him the 1000th player in the team's history. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. Did Michael Conforto lean into it? But hes certainly done very well in the short time weve had him., I could see it happening, but I wouldnt want to see it, the first scout said. WebMichael Conforto was drafted by the New York Mets in the 1st round (10th) of the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft from Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR). Name: Michael Conforto Age: 22 (March 1, 1993) Birthplace: Woodlinville, WA Bats/Throws: L/R Ht: 6 1 Wt: 211. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. New York Mets selected the contract of Michael Conforto from Binghamton Mets. After his own football career ended Having made the jump from Double-A directly to the major leagues last July 24, he is the starting left fielder for the defending National League champions and is hitting .301. Im kind of speechless. 100 AB)Drove in 19 runs in 17 games vs. the Phillies, the most by any player in 2018, including a careerhigh six RBI on September 17 at PhiladelphiaOnly Mike Piazza (22 RBI in 2002) and Darryl Strawberry (20 RBI in 1987) have had more RBI against Philadelphia in a season in Mets historyHomered in his third at-bat of the season in his return from the Disabled List on April 5 at WashingtonWas recovering from surgery, performed on September 6, 2017, to repair a tear in the posterior capsule in his left shoulder after suffering a dislocated left shoulder on August 25, 2017Clubbed a Statcast-estimated 472-foot homer on August 27 at Wrigley Field, the longest home run by a Mets hitter since Statcast began tracking data in 2015Homered in three-straight games for the first time in his career, September 8-11. Congrats for letting it fly. In slow motion, it definitely looks like Conforto deliberately stuck out his elbow so he would get hit by the pitch. Confortos college stop, to him and his inner circle, marked the most important chapter in his journey. WebFullname: Michael Thomas Conforto. Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. And his B material, and his C material, and whatever letter much deeper into the alphabet you want to use to describe material such as delivering Homer Simpson-esque puns to describe Max Scherzers free agency (A material would have been Boras singing quite accurately as it would have turned out Teams that dont want to pay $100 million musnt tooooouch) and offering a malapropism mashup of Bob Seger and rock analogies to describe Corey Seager. Some people don't. "I think he is prepared for this," the father said. Michael Conforto made last year. But he missed five weeks with a hamstring injury this year, when he was batting under .200 as late as Aug. 5 and didnt lift his average above .230 for good until the penultimate day of the season. Two years after that, in 2015, Conforto was with the Mets when they won the National League pennant for the first time since 2000. Maybe he was raw in comparison to the high school kids getting drafted, the Mets executive said. Michael Conforto had 650 hits over his career. New York Mets activated RF Michael Conforto from the 10-day injured list. Michael Conforto had 132 home runs over his career. "It really is a tough road regardless of how much talent you have," Mike Conforto said. This is how Michael Conforto, the 10th pick in last year's MLB draft, hits, his swing sweet and compact, the line drives spraying from foul line to foul line. Conforto breaks out for four hits with his father watching from the stands. All I can control is what I do on the field and the way I show up every day. I was raw, Conforto said. New York Mets placed LF Michael Conforto on the 7-day injured list. I was doing baseball, football, basketball.. 2023 Oregon State Athletics. In fact, the institution that Joe helped build is much larger than a single coach or team. Michael Conforto is on Instagram at mconforto8. My dad is a competitive guy. He was my football coach. This from a team that had lost four of five and spent the first two games of this series swinging swizzle sticks. He didn't just pick up his second His father was his football coach. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball, Salaries may not be complete (especially pre-1985) and may not include some earned bonuses. Manager Don Mattingly was furious about the call, and argued with the umpires over the ruling. The Mets' booth was disappointed the game ended on that play. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. In his time in New York, Conforto made an All-Star team (2017), smacked 132 home runs and hit .333 with two homers in his only World Series appearance as a 22-year-old in 2015. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Mike Conforto, a Nittany Lions linebacker in the mid-1970s, set up the visit through former assistant coach Fran Ganter, now a Penn State associate athletic director. New York extended an $18.4 million qualifying offer in November to Conforto, who turned it down to test free agency. It's overwhelming as far as the big stage and everything that's going on, but once the game starts, it's the same game he's always played. Injured list assigned to St. Lucie Mets from Savannah Sand Gnats to St. Mets. No, the Phillies are not terrible, tank you very much, FOLLOW the DAILY NEWS SPORTS on.... Something else may have been going on this from a team that had lost four of and... The contest Sugar Bowls maybe he was raw in comparison to the high school kids drafted! 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