Ailing outfielder Michael Conforto makes emotional return to Citi Field with Giants

Baseball

Published 02.07.2023

Ailing outfielder Michael Conforto makes emotional return to Citi Field with Giants

NEW YORK — Michael Conforto made an emotional return to Citi Field as a visiting participant Friday night time and held out hope he may play in at the least one recreation for the San Francisco Giants throughout their weekend collection in opposition to the New York Mets.

Conforto, sidelined with a left hamstring harm, appeared teary-eyed when the Mets aired a prolonged pregame tribute to the outfielder, who was chosen by the crew within the first spherical of the 2014 draft and performed for New York from 2015-21.

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The video included footage of Conforto assembly with youngsters benefiting from his charity, the Conforto Cares Program, and ended with the phrases “for the love, for the passion, for the moments, thank you Michael.”

“Probably (will) make me a little emotional, looking back at some great moments,” Conforto stated within the Giants’ dugout a few hours earlier. “It’s the beginning of my professional career. It’s where I grew up as a ballplayer and as a young man. Started dating my wife out here. New York, it’ll always be a massive part of who I am. So that’s a really special thing to me.”

Conforto stated he loved seeing safety guards and clubhouse personnel at Citi Field whereas marveling on the big new scoreboard — measuring 17,400 sq. toes — that spans heart subject. He additionally stated he was acknowledged by an agent because the Giants, who accomplished a collection in Toronto on Thursday night time, went by customs on the airport early Friday morning.

“Just a bunch of New York stuff that only happens out here,” Conforto stated.

Conforto hit .255 with 132 homers and 396 RBIs in 757 regular-season video games for the Mets. As a rookie, he batted .333 with two homers — each in Game 4 — of the 2015 World Series in opposition to the Kansas City Royals.

Battling an harm as he returned to New York supplied a little bit of an unwelcome reminder of a few of the tougher components of his tenure with the Mets. Conforto made the NL All-Star crew in 2017, when he hit .279 with 27 homers earlier than sustaining a season-ending left shoulder harm whereas swinging in opposition to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 24 that yr.

Conforto missed 5 weeks in 2021 with a proper hamstring harm and was sidelined all of final season by a proper shoulder harm he sustained whereas understanding as a free agent.

Conforto exited Thursday’s recreation in Toronto with a good left hamstring after he made a catch in proper subject within the first inning. He underwent imaging on the Hospital for Special Surgery — positioned throughout the road from the place he lived whereas enjoying for the Mets — on Friday that exposed a fascia pressure.

“Lots of people at HSS know me — I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not,” Conforto stated with a smile. “I wasn’t necessarily happy to be there, but I was happy to see those people.”

Conforto’s hopes of enjoying this weekend remained intact when he was not positioned on the injured listing Friday by the Giants, who optioned infielder David Villar to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for beginning pitcher Alex Cobb when he was reinstated from the IL.

“I was looking forward to stepping in the box and playing in front of these fans again and that’s kind of heartbreaking a little bit,” Conforto stated. “I had some imaging to see if I could make it right into a recreation this weekend. It’s one thing I need to do.”

The Mets additionally aired a tribute to Giants infielder J.D. Davis, who performed for the crew from 2019 till he was traded to San Francisco final Aug. 2. In addition, infielder Wilmer Flores, a preferred Mets participant from 2013-18, acquired a heat ovation when he batted within the first inning.