The New York Mets got everything they could have asked for from Michael Conforto during the shortened 2020 season. Conforto amazed for the entire year and proved why he deserves an extension from new owner Steve Cohen. To put his season in perspective, his average dropped to .286 after ten games, and that was the lowest it got all season.
Michael Conforto's a hitting machine. ? pic.twitter.com/TuBKKsS08W
— MLB (@MLB) September 11, 2020
With 25 home runs in each of the last three years, there was no doubt that Conforto possessed good power. He has shown the ability to hit for a high average, only at .253 for his career coming into the season. Conforto came in with the approach that made him a highly-touted prospect back in 2015.
He sacrificed an abundance of home runs to put together more base hits. Conforto’s average launch angle in 2019 was 16 degrees, but it dropped to 11 in 2020. This resulted in Conforto putting together the lowest flyball and highest line drive percentage of his career. Conforto’s numbers prospered by hitting .322/.412/.515; all three were the highest of his career.
The adjustments were noticeable in his swing because teams could not shift against him anymore. Conforto had a .423 wOBA against the shit, and he consistently looked to use the entire field whether or not there was a shift. His power is legitimate, which resulted in the high slugging percentage because he can home from foul pole to foul pole. Another key part of Conforto’s strong season was his .284/.376/.486 slash line against lefties compared to .241/.316/.385 in the previous season.
Mets Go How Conforto Goes
Conforto’s success was in correlation with the Mets’ success. His average in wins was .419 compared to just .250 in losses, with seven of his nine homers coming in Mets victories. Conforto’s defense in the outfield also made a key difference in Mets wins. Despite some metrics rank his mobility below average, his throwing ability/tough play ability balance those out. Overall he is a solid right fielder who should get a chance in center field if the Mets do not sign a capable defender.
Overall, Conforto had an All-Star and fringe MVP caliber year. Among NL leaders, he finished sixth in batting average (.322), sixth in on-base percentage (.412), and seventh in hits (65). He deserves a contract extension and has turned the corner at the right time as he moves towards his career’s prime years.
2020 Grades On 20-80 Scale (2021 Projection)
Hitting: 80 (65), Still, a major question if he can hit over .300 for a full season, but he showed all the signs of becoming a complete hitter.
Power: 65 (65), The power numbers were right on part with the past two seasons. The most consistent part of his game.
Run: 35 (30), Lost some speed this season, which resulted in his lack of outfield range.
Arm: 70 (70), Six outfield assists, 3.3 ARM (Outfield Arm runs above average), which allows him to remain a capable outfielder.
Field: 55 (50), He will catch what he can get to and is fearless when making the tough plays.
Overall: 75 (70), Conforto’s best season in the big league, and excited to see what 2021 has in store for him.