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 Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Fast track. With the teams set to play two more games in the series, it wouldn't be a huge shock to see Conforto get hit again before the weekend is over. The umpire awarded Conforto with the base, and the Mets won on a walk-off hit-by-pitch. There was some confusion over whether the play could be reviewed. Ive covered the Mets for a variety of outlets since 1997. Michael the father joked about how the acquisition of Juan Uribe and Johnson makes his son only the third-newest Met position player. The Mets optimism about the player only has increased since they procured Conforto for a $2,970,800 signing bonus. The elder Michael Conforto misses his son's big-league debut but gets to see his breakout game. Huge congratulations to Michael Conforto from two St. Lucie Mets season ticket holders. Father: Mike Conforto, played linebacker at Penn State under Joe Paterno. For Conforto's father, watching his son reach the highest level of his sport has been a treat. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. California residents do not sell my data request. Scooter, Forto are nicknames for Michael Conforto. "You remember all those times on all those fields when he was five and six years old," the father said. "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. After Dominic Smith took a knee during the National Anthem in protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake prior to the game against the Marlins Aug. 26, Conforto said he supported Smith but wouldnt kneel. It overlooks his personal history which, if anything, makes the Mets prospects rise even more impressive. In the same player pool, his on-base percentage (.364) ranks 12th, he hit the 15th-most home runs (111) and his 127 OPS+ was tied for 11th with Mitch Haniger. Conforto adjusted in September, and he went 5 for 15 with four RBIs in the World Series against Kansas City, homering twice in Game 4. Conforto, 29, spent the first seven years of his career with the New York Mets. New York Mets recalled Michael Conforto from Las Vegas 51s. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. "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. New York Mets placed LF Michael Conforto on the 10-day injured list. Im kind of speechless. Michael Conforto was born on March 1, 1993. Team: San Francisco Giants (majors) Born: March 1, 1993 in Seattle, WA us Draft: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 1st round (10th) of the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft from Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR). In Reference to Join our linker program. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Sometimes youll have a rough patch and youll start to think you need to change a lot of things, but, like I said before, sticking with that routine and being consistent, I think that goes a long way in not freaking out or panicking when things arent going so well How do you view your role on the big league team? New York Mets outfielder Michael Conforto will do whatever it takes to win games even if it requires some slight rule breaking. 01 was a great year, and that was the last time we made the playoffs, Conforto said, before quickly self-editing with a smile: They made the playoffs.. He broke an ankle sliding hard into a base during a Little League game. Many thanks to him. Kulpa admitted as much following the contest. Michael Conforto has a sister, Jacqueline, who played soccer at Azusa Pacific University. 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. It was Week 3, just before halftime of a Penn State win against Maryland in a nationally televised game at Beaver Stadium. While Boras predictably laid it on thick about Conforto calling him the king of diamonds as well as the king of Queens (someone alert Kevin James and Jacob deGrom) before declaring Conforto is the ace of many general managers hearts, his less boisterous statements spoke to how layered and fascinating the free agent case is for Conforto. But the 22-year-old leftfielder is, after all, the son of a Penn State linebacker. Shortly thereafter, Smith appeared via Zoom and wept during an emotional press conference. The player ultimately dictates that to us. Michael, his supreme athletic genes never in question, grew up playing football and baseball. Confortos most impressive act of maturity and leadership occurred Aug. 26-27, 2020. Confortos father, Mike Conforto, grew up in Altoona, Pa., and played linebacker for Joe Paterno at Penn State. After beginning this year as the Mets' No. He still deals with the ramifications from his football injuries but says he "would do it again in a heartbeat.". "This kid can hit. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. He could have taken another path. You've got a gift from God. 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. Michael the father has had four knee surgeries, and No. In order to take action, MLB would have to review the play and determine Conforto deliberately stuck out his elbow to get hit. The Mississippi State freshman is a rare ambidextrous pitcher, the most notable since Pat Venditte appeared in 61 major league games from 2015-20. The raw power was just sitting there, said Pat Casey, still the head coach at Oregon State. He's hitting .304 in the third hole with four homers and 15 RBIs. "There is so many things involved to get there and to be able to consistently perform and have the right mental makeup, too, to handle everything. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. He has a unique athletic pedigreePlenty of big leaguers were raised by athletes themselves -- just ask the Blue Jays, who field lineups with three second-generation players, the sons of incredibly successful Major Leaguers. I have put work in with them (coaches) and the best time to do it is in batting practice so you can get live reads off the bat. Mike Conforto met Tracie after he and Penn State teammate Craig Coder moved to the Puget Sound area following graduation. Alongside his 4-for-4 and his five trips on base, he had two doubles, four runs, a nice running catch in left field, and oh yes, a batting average of .571. "Most guys that get called up, they get sent down within the first month," Mets hitting coach Kevin Long said. New York Mets activated LF Michael Conforto from the 10-day injured list. LF Michael Conforto assigned to Brooklyn Cyclones. Im extremely excited! 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. One coach for a regular Mets opponent said he asked his front office what they were watching when they continually presented him with advance scouting reports that identified Conforto as a minus-defender. The elder Michael Conforto misses his son's big-league debut but gets to see his breakout game. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. 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. "I can't wait to see him.". The best insights from the ultimate insiders, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Yankees' options for left field continue to dwindle, Ex-Mets star headed to Giants after missing 2022 season, Who will be the Yankees' left fielder? 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. Is one of three players to play in the Little League World Series, the College World Series and the World Series (also, Jason Varitek and Ed Vosberg)Comes from an athletic familyHis father, Mike, played football as a linebacker at Penn State University from 1976-1978His mother, Tracie, won two gold medals in synchronized swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and a silver medal in 1988 in SeoulShe was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of FameSwung both right- and left-handed as a kidWas more comfortable hitting leftyHis father encouraged him to work more on his left-handed swingConforto throws right-handed, but writes left-handedHas two dogs, Griffey and KaliEach pup had a cardboard cutout in the stands at Citi Field in 2020Got engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Cabernet, during the 2020-21 offseasonThe two are set to get married after the 2021 seasonPlays PUBG (PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds) on Xbox to unwind and forget about baseballPlays with Los Angeles-NL's Max MuncyAlso enjoys "Call of Duty: Warzone.". Despite initially becoming a free agent last winter, offseason shoulder surgery threw a wrench in the works, keeping him unsigned for the entirety of the 2022 season. "But I said the moment I dove into the pool, all of that went away and everything became automatic pilot and then I had the adrenaline to take it a step higher.". The Giants' spring training win Sunday marked Michael Conforto's first appearance in a OF Michael Conforto assigned to New York Mets. The Mets' booth was disappointed the game ended on that play. Under MLB rules, Kulpa should have called the pitch a strike. "This guy, there's no holes to him. But Conforto did, as well, appearing in the prestigious tournament with Redmond North Little League in 2004. He's doing it himself. (Age 22-145d, Penn State moves up two spots after Rose Bowl win in final AP top 25 rankings of 2022 season. Apodo: Forto. Binghamton Mets activated LF Michael Conforto from the temporarily inactive list. This from a team that had lost four of five and spent the first two games of this series swinging swizzle sticks. New York Mets recalled LF Michael Conforto from Las Vegas 51s. San Francisco Giants signed free agent LF Michael Conforto. The Mets' game ended in controversy Thursday after Conforto appeared to lean into a pitch for a walk-off hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded. 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. Conforto grew up on tales of the late 1970s Nittany Lions and their trips to the Gator, Fiesta and Sugar Bowls. Binghamton Mets placed LF Michael Conforto on the temporarily inactive list. 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. That procedure, performed in January 2022, kept him out for the entire season, and it remains to be seen how a year away will impact his ability to contribute in 2023. Congrats for letting it fly. Trade him! This guys a warrior.. Posted by Mark Wogenrich at 12:21:39 PM on June 17, 2013. Hes able to go out there and lay off some tough pitches, and then whenever he gets a good pitch to hit, he puts a good swing on it. This is a BETA experience. BINGHAMTON Haggard town, run-down ballpark. The younger Conforto credited Casey and his deputies, Pat Bailey (associate head coach) and Nate Yeskie (assistant coach), for improving his swing mechanics, his understanding of the strike zone and his mental approach to the game. The son agreed, and a little while after giving his team all manner of comfort and support, Michael Conforto the son talked about "really, really special" it was to have his first four big-league hits in front of his father. Michael Conforto may have stuck his elbow out over the plate to win the game. Fastballs or flutter kicks, Tracie Conforto knows about high-pressure performances. 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. More than 325 former Penn State football players have joined in support of a recent lawsuit filed against the NCAA. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images). He had a streak of doubles in six straight games, tying the club record. Yet while Conforto isnt prime Dave Parker or Ichiro Suzuki in right field, he has a knack for positioning himself to make terrific plays (like this one against the Orioles in September 2020), throws (like this one to cut down the Braves Abraham Almonte at the plate to preserve a 2-1 Mets win on July 28) and catches (like this one, potentially his last at Citi Field as a member of the Mets). Men's Basketball Mar 8, 2022. 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. He admitted he didn't call it correctly: The guy was hit by the pitch in the strike zone. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. Relaxed aggression, smart intensity. Conforto knows the advantages his background presented. A three-sport athlete at Redmond High School outside Seattle, he played quarterback for the Mustangs. Nombre Completo: Michael Thomas Conforto. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 12: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Michael Conforto #30 of the New York Mets loses his bat against the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field on May 12, 2021 in New York City. Conforto put together a superstar-caliber season during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, when he hit .322 with nine homers, 31 RBIs and an OPS+ of 154. But deep beneath the schtick, Boras delivered one truth: Michael Conforto is going to have one of the most interesting and, it appears, protracted winters (and maybe springs and summers) of any free agent. Decide for yourself. The next day, Conforto worked with the Marlins Miguel Rojas and Lewis Brinson to coordinate a protest in which the reserves and bench staff from both teams stood alongside their respective baselines as the Mets starting lineup and Brinson, the Marlins leadoff batter, took the field for 42 seconds before walking off the field. 90 plate appearances): extra-base hits (17, tied for first), runs scored (25, tied for second), on-base percentage (.426, fifth), slugging percentage (.627, fourth), RBI (21, tied for seventh) and home runs (7, tied for eighth)Hit safely in a career-best nine games from July 27-August 5Batted .350 (14-40) with three homers, five RBI and eight runs scored during the streakHad five straight hits go for home runs from August 5-13The five straight hits for homers were tied for the longest such streak for any major leaguer in 2017 according to EliasThe two others to do so were Yonder Alonso (May 6-9) and Ian Happ (June 4-14)He was the fifth Mets player in team history to have a streak of five straight hits (or more) going for home runs Bobby Bonilla had a streak of five in 1992, Ike Davis a streak of five in 2012, Lucas Duda a streak of eight in 2015 and Neil Walker a streak of five in 2016Research courtesy of EliasPosted six doubles, 13 home runs and 27 RBI in 39 games after the All-Star breakAt the time of his injury, his 13 homers following the break were tied for fifth-most in the majorsHe was tied for 13th in the NL in RBI (27) after the All-Star break and tied for 10th in runs scored (25) at the time of his injury. 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