Michael Conforto was born on March 1st, 1993 in Woodinville, Washington. He comes from a family full of athletes. His mother, Tracy Ruiz Conforto was a two time, Olympic Gold Medalist (1984 / 1988) in synchronized swimming. His father was a football, line backer at Penn. State University & his sister, Jacquekine was a college soccer player.In 2004 he played in the Little League World Series for the North West Region.
In high school the honor roll student played short stop on the baseball team & was a stand out safety in football. He was recruited by several Ivy League schools for football & was also sought after for baseball. He chose to stick with baseball & play at Oregon State. In his first year he was voted Freshman Hitter of the Year batting .349 with 13 HRs & setting a school record with 76 RBIs.
In his sophomore year, he was named All American, leading his Oregon Beavers to the College World Series, where he went 7-14, getting named to the All Tournament Team. In his off seasons he played for USA Collegiate National teams.
In 2013 he batted .345, named the Pac 12 Player of the Year & was named a first-team All-American. He went into 2014 as the pre season, Sporting News College Player of the Year. The six foot one, left hand hitting outfielder, throws right handed. He attended Oregon State University getting drafted by the New York Mets in the first round in 2014 (the #10 pick overall).
Minor Leagues: Conforto's pro career began that same year with the Brooklyn Cyclones. That year he led his club in batting (.331) & in HRs (3) while playing in 42 games. He started 2015 with the St. Lucie Mets where he hit .283 with 7 HRs & 28 RBIs in 46 games.
With the New York Mets struggeling to score runs & an injury to Michael Cuddyer, the team decided to promote Conforto right up to the big league level. At this point in time he was the organizations best hitting prospect. He made his debut in the big leagues on July 24th, 2015 starting in left field and going 0-3 in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
On July 31st when the Mets traded for Yoenis Cespedes, Conforto was sent back down to the minor leagues to develop his young career.
Four days later on August 3rd he was back in the big leagues when Kirk Nieuwenhuis went on the DL. By this time the Mets had now taken over first place. That night he hit his first career HR, in a 12-1 Mets win in Florida as the team took over sole possession of first place.Conforto drove in runs the next two nights, including game tying single in the top of the 9th inning at Tampa, as New York came from behind to beat the Rays 4-3. Conforto scored the game winner on Wilmer Flores RBI hit.
In a hot September he was a big contributor to the Mets offense & run at the NL East title. Along with the newly acquired Yoenis Cespedes the Mets outfield all of a sudden had pop & lots of hits out of their spots in the lineup.
In the first seven days of September he hit two HRs & drove in five runs in five games he played in. On September 13th toward the end of the Mets eight game win streak, he hit a two run HR in a 10-7 win & sweep of a series against the Braves in Atlanta.
On September 21st, he hit another HR against the Braves helping Jon Niese & the bullpen in a 4-0 shut out at Citi. Since his arrival in August, Conforto had 13 multi hit games, with 9 HRs with 23 RBIs. In a total of 56 games, he had 47 hits batting .270 with 9 HRs 14 doubles & 26 RBIs. He played primarily in left field, making six assists with a 1.000 fielding %.
In the 2nd inning, three batters after Yoenis Cespedes hit a HR, Conforto followed with a HR of his own, both coming off Zack Greinke. Conforto did not get any more hits in the NLDS or in the NLCS sweep of the Chicago Cubs.
On October 27th, in Game #1 of the World Series, Conforto hit a 6th inning sac fly off Edinson Volquez driving in Yoenis Cespedes for the Mets second run.
In Game #3 at Citi Field, the game in which the Mets won 9-3 behind Noah Syndergaard, Conforto hit a 4th inning double driving in Lucas Duda with the Mets fifth run.In the Mets Game #4 heartbreaking loss, the game was highlighted by Confoto's two HRs, in the 3rd & 5th innings. Conforto also had two hits in the final 5th Game at Citi Field.
Overall in the World Series, Conforto led the Mets in batting .333 (for batters with more than two at bats) and was one of four Mets to have five hits. He was second in HRs (2) & RBIs (4) in the Series for the Mets as well. Overall in 12 post season games, he had two six hits (6-30) batting .200 with 3 HRs & 6 RBIs.
Trivia: Conforto became the third player in MLB history to have played in the Little League World Series, College World Series & MLB World Series.
After the Pennant- 2016: The 2016 season, started out well for Conforto as he finished April batting .365 4 HRs & 18 RBIs. On April 8th he had a three RBI day on a 7-2 Mets win over the Phillies at Citi Field. In mid April he drove in three runs with a HR as the Mets took two of three in Cleveland against the eventual AL Champions.On April 24th he drove in two runs in the Mets 3-2 win at Atlanta over the Braves. In a six game stretch from April 24th to April 30th he drove in ten runs during an eight game hit streak where he collected 15 hits.
His average fell to below .300 by mid May until he had another hot streak. He would hit a HR on May7th, then hit safely in nine of eleven games. On May 17th, he hit a solo HR off Max Scherzer, in a 2-0 Mets win over the Washington Nats. On May 20th, he hit another solo HR, this one against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 3-2 Mets win. Things weren't going well at the plate for Conforto, but there were a few highlights. On June 4th, his 8th inning hit off David Phelps in Miami put the Mets ahead in a 6-4 win.
On June 8th in Pittsburgh, he drove in three runs including a game tying HR to help the Mets in a 6-5 win over the Pirates. At Citi Field he would hit another HR against the Pirates a week later.
From May 24th to June 24th, he had just eight hits in 84 plate appearances in 25 games, as his average plummeted to .222.
From May 24th to June 24th, he had just eight hits in 84 plate appearances in 25 games, as his average plummeted to .222. On June 24th & he was sent down to AA Las Vegas as the Mets called up Brandon Nimmo, one of the teams top prospects.
He returned in mid July & began to play in right & center field as well as his usual left. He was used mostly as a reserve than as a starter, without the Mets giving him an everyday chance it may have affected his play even more so.
On August 7th, he hit his first HR in nearly two months in a 3-1 win at Detroit. During the September pennant stretch, he had a two RBI game on September 18th against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 3-2 win.
On September 23rd he hit a HR with three RBIs & two hits in a 10-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Overall in a disappointing 2016 season, he hit .220, struggling mightily against lefties,with 12 HRs 21 doubles & 42 RBIs.
In the off season , the Mets resigned Yoenis Cespedes & could not shop Jay Bruce in the trade market as expected. That left Confoto's future uncertain.
2017: As 2017 began, Conforto lost his starting role & was penciled in as the fourth outfielder. But a hot April had him batting .321 with 6 HRs 13 RBIs in the month. From April 9th to the 15th, he drove in runs in five of six games with a pair of HRs. On April 29th he hit two HRs & carried the Mets to a 5-3 win over the Nats in D.C.
In May he regained his starting role as he hit seven more HRs & drove in 21 runs. From May 14th to the 25th, he hit five HRs including two in a May 23rd win over the San Diego Padres. In that game he had four RBIs in the 9-3 Mets win at Citi Field.
2017 All Star Appearance: As the Mets suffered injuries, Conforto became the teams best player, at the break after 70 games, he was hitting .284 with 14 HRs & 41 RBIs. He was named as the Mets only representative to the All Star Game in Miami. In the NL's 2-1 loss, Conforto got two at bats collecting a base hit.
He would match his season high four RBI game high twice, once in a July 14th, 14-2 Mets win over the Rockies & again on July 21st. In that game, at Citi Field in a Mets 7-5 win over the Oakland A's, he had one of his three multi HR games.
On August 24th, he injured himself while swinging at a pitch and tore his shoulder. He missed the remained of the season & opted to get the surgery.
He ended 2017 with 27 HRs & 68 RBIs (both second on the club to Jay Bruce). He had 104 hits with 20 doubles 57 walks 113 Ks & a .384 on base % in 109 games.
In the outfield he posted a .984 fielding % with five assists. 52 games in left, 43 in center & 11 in right.
2018: To start out the 2018 season, he played his first game on April 5th in Washington D.C. hitting a HR & driving in two runs, On May 11th his two run HR helped the Mets to a 3-1 win at Philadelphia.
He hit another HR on May 19th, helping the Mets in a 5-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, in a game where Wilmer Flores provided the walk off sac fly RBI.
He returned in mid July & began to play in right & center field as well as his usual left. He was used mostly as a reserve than as a starter, without the Mets giving him an everyday chance it may have affected his play even more so.
On August 7th, he hit his first HR in nearly two months in a 3-1 win at Detroit. During the September pennant stretch, he had a two RBI game on September 18th against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 3-2 win. On September 23rd he hit a HR with three RBIs & two hits in a 10-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Overall in a disappointing 2016 season, he hit .220, struggling mightily against lefties,with 12 HRs 21 doubles & 42 RBIs.
In the off season , the Mets resigned Yoenis Cespedes & could not shop Jay Bruce in the trade market as expected. That left Confoto's future uncertain.
2017: As 2017 began, Conforto lost his starting role & was penciled in as the fourth outfielder. But a hot April had him batting .321 with 6 HRs 13 RBIs in the month. From April 9th to the 15th, he drove in runs in five of six games with a pair of HRs. On April 29th he hit two HRs & carried the Mets to a 5-3 win over the Nats in D.C.
In May he regained his starting role as he hit seven more HRs & drove in 21 runs. From May 14th to the 25th, he hit five HRs including two in a May 23rd win over the San Diego Padres. In that game he had four RBIs in the 9-3 Mets win at Citi Field. 2017 All Star Appearance: As the Mets suffered injuries, Conforto became the teams best player, at the break after 70 games, he was hitting .284 with 14 HRs & 41 RBIs. He was named as the Mets only representative to the All Star Game in Miami. In the NL's 2-1 loss, Conforto got two at bats collecting a base hit.
He would match his season high four RBI game high twice, once in a July 14th, 14-2 Mets win over the Rockies & again on July 21st. In that game, at Citi Field in a Mets 7-5 win over the Oakland A's, he had one of his three multi HR games.
On August 24th, he injured himself while swinging at a pitch and tore his shoulder. He missed the remained of the season & opted to get the surgery. He ended 2017 with 27 HRs & 68 RBIs (both second on the club to Jay Bruce). He had 104 hits with 20 doubles 57 walks 113 Ks & a .384 on base % in 109 games.
In the outfield he posted a .984 fielding % with five assists. 52 games in left, 43 in center & 11 in right.
He hit another HR on May 19th, helping the Mets in a 5-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, in a game where Wilmer Flores provided the walk off sac fly RBI.
At the same time this week he was struggling just to keep his average over .200.
From July 14th to the 27th, Conforto had a hot streak in as he hit four HRs with a dozen RBIs & a dozen hits. In August he hit HRs in back to back games including one in the Mets subway series win. Later that week he had three hits & a HR in the Mets 24-4 romp over Philadelphia.
The next day, although the Mets lost, Conforto had three more hits while driving in four runs. On August 28th, he matched that with four more RBIs & another three hit day, in the Mets 6-3 win over the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field.
In September he had his best offensive production of the season, in the first two weeks of the month he hit 6 HRs with 17 hits & 15 RBIs.
On September 13th, in the second game of a double header, his solo HR off Kyle Barraclough tied the game up at 3-3. Todd Frazier's walk off HR beat the Miami Marlins 4-3, in a n exciting win.
On September 17th, he had a season high six RBI's carrying the Mets to a 9-4 win. On the day he hit a single, double & a three run HR.
In the Mets poor 2018 season, Conforto led the team in HRs (28) walks (84) RBIs (82) & runs scored (78). He batted .243 with 132 hits a .350 on base %. His 84 walks were 8th most in the NL & his 159 strike outs 7th most.
He spent the most time in left field (84 games) with 58 in center & 12 in right. Overall he had five assists with a .990 fielding %.
From July 14th to the 27th, Conforto had a hot streak in as he hit four HRs with a dozen RBIs & a dozen hits. In August he hit HRs in back to back games including one in the Mets subway series win. Later that week he had three hits & a HR in the Mets 24-4 romp over Philadelphia. The next day, although the Mets lost, Conforto had three more hits while driving in four runs. On August 28th, he matched that with four more RBIs & another three hit day, in the Mets 6-3 win over the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field.
In September he had his best offensive production of the season, in the first two weeks of the month he hit 6 HRs with 17 hits & 15 RBIs. On September 13th, in the second game of a double header, his solo HR off Kyle Barraclough tied the game up at 3-3. Todd Frazier's walk off HR beat the Miami Marlins 4-3, in a n exciting win.
On September 17th, he had a season high six RBI's carrying the Mets to a 9-4 win. On the day he hit a single, double & a three run HR.In the Mets poor 2018 season, Conforto led the team in HRs (28) walks (84) RBIs (82) & runs scored (78). He batted .243 with 132 hits a .350 on base %. His 84 walks were 8th most in the NL & his 159 strike outs 7th most.
He spent the most time in left field (84 games) with 58 in center & 12 in right. Overall he had five assists with a .990 fielding %.
He got off to a hot start after Opening Day, hitting safely in 14 of 16 games, with three straight games where he hit a HR. He peaked with a .372 average but that quickly fell off, as he ended April batting .269 but was second to Pete Alonso with 14 RBIs.
In late May he hit four HRs over an eight game span. On May 28th, he hit his first career grand slam. The HR came off the Dodgers, Scott Alexander in Los Angeles, Conforto drove in five runs in the Mets 7-3 win.
As the Mets began to win, they found themselves in the play off hunt for a wild card spot. At the end of July they won seven straight, Conforto homered in three straight games from July 27-July 30th, during that streak. On July 31st, he & Todd Frazier had 8th inning RBI singles, leading the Mets to a 4-2 win in Chicago, over the White Sox.
On August 4th, Conforto had two hits & hit his 22nd HR, in the Mets 13-2 win over the Pirates.
Walk Off: On Friday August 9th, the Mets went into the bottom of the 9th inning, down 6-3 to the Washington Nationals. Todd Frazier, tied the game with a three run HR off Sean Doolittle.
He singled driving in Lagares with the walk off game winning, run. The exciting win had the Citi Field crowd go wild.
On August 18th, he hit his 26th HR, a two run shot off Kansas City's Glenn Sparkman, as he drove in four runs in the Mets 11-5 win.
On August 20th, he hit a two run HR in Cleveland, off Shane Biber, in the Mets 9-2 win as they won another five straight games.
The Mets & Conforto both slumped as they lost five straight. On August 30th, he hit a two run HR as the Mets beat the Phils in Philadelphia 11-5.
On August 18th, he hit his 26th HR, a two run shot off Kansas City's Glenn Sparkman, as he drove in four runs in the Mets 11-5 win.
The Mets & Conforto both slumped as they lost five straight. On August 30th, he hit a two run HR as the Mets beat the Phils in Philadelphia 11-5.
Conforto hit his 30th HR, on September 12th, during the Mets four game sweep of the D-backs at Citi Field.
The Mets slowly fell out of the wild card race during the end of the season, but had a quality 86 win season. On September 24th, he had another multi HR game, hitting two & driving in four runs in the Mets 5-4 win over the Marlins.Overall Conforto had his best year up to that point un his career with career highs in hits (141) runs (90) & doubles (29).
His 33 HRs & 92 RBIs, were both second to Pete Alonso & also career highs. He was third on the team with a .363 on base %, & with games played 151.
2020: In the strike shortened Covid19 season, he played in 54 games, leading the team in batting (.324) & on base % (.412%). He hit 9 HRs with 12 doubles 24 walks & 31 RBIs in 202 at bats.
In September 2nd, in Baltimore, Conforto had a
big day collecting four hits, hitting a HR & driving in five runs, on a 9-4 Mets win over the Orioles.
Career Stats: In his six year career, he is a .259 hitter with 118 HRs 121 doubles 4 triples & 341 RBIs with a .358 in base %. He has played in 632 games overall with 579 games in the outfield (11th most in Mets history).
On August 19th, in Miami the Mets were tied 3-3 in n the top of the 9th inning, Conforto hit a two run HR off Brandon Kintzler, to win the game. In August 26th, he hit another HR against the Marlins, in a 8-7 Mets win.
big day collecting four hits, hitting a HR & driving in five runs, on a 9-4 Mets win over the Orioles.
On September 9th, he helped spark a Mets three run comeback against the O's, with a HR in the 5th inning off Jorge Lopez. In his next game, at Toronto, he hot a three run HR off Chase Anderson. He later collected a walk, a hit & an RBI in the Mets huge, ten run 4th inning. The Mets won the game 18-1.
He played 259 games in left (9th most in Mets history) 217 in right & 146 in centerfield. He has 34 assists & posted a .989 fielding %.
Early in his career, he was living on the Upper East side with Noah Syndergaard until 2017. He then got a place of his own, preferring one of the more quieter neighborhoods in Manhattan.
Family: In January of 2021, Conforto got engaged to his longtime girlfriend Cabernet Burns while in Mexico. Burns is VP at Prom Series which curates, foster girls to build confidence & worth.
