“It all hit me towards the end of the game,” said a tearful Michael Conforto, who may have played his final home game as a Met Thursday night. “The emotions were definitely there. I tried to fight it as best I could, but when you get a crowd like that supporting you, it’s a good feeling. It’s a great feeling.”
A first-round pick of the Mets in 2014, Conforto will have a big decision to make this offseason. Will the 28-year-old outfielder return for another go-round in the Big Apple or will the allure of free-agent riches pull him in a new direction? Or has that decision already been made by Mets management, who are nursing a depleted bankroll after spending a fortune on All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor, recipient of the third-largest contract in MLB history? And even if deep-pocketed owner Steve Cohen embarks on another offseason spending spree, it’s still likely the Mets prioritize their starting pitching by retaining fellow free agents Noah Syndergaard (who expressed optimism about returning to New York next season) and Marcus Stroman.
Whatever the future holds for Conforto, Thursday was an emotional experience for all involved with the former All-Star receiving thunderous applause from his home fans at Citi Field. Conforto has largely struggled this year (.228/.342/.376 slash line with just 13 homers in 399 at-bats), though his heroics Thursday night, including this sensational shoestring catch to rob Marlins infielder Joe Panik of a base hit, helped the Mets to a decisive 12-3 victory in their home finale.
“Maybe I was supposed to have my moment,” said Conforto, who went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI in New York’s rout of Miami. “Fans cheering my name and telling me, ‘Don’t go.’ It really was a special night for me.”
Appreciative of his efforts, fans at Citi Field stayed behind to honor Conforto with a well-deserved standing ovation.
Though the Mets fell well short of expectations this year, extending their postseason drought to five seasons, Conforto was glad to finish on a high note. “You look back at everything that’s happened to this point. A World Series that I was really fortunate to come up and have an impact my first year. A big injury in an All-Star year. Some adversity. Some ups and downs. Some good years. Even stuff off the field, growing to really love the city,” said Conforto, reflecting on his seven-year Mets tenure. “We’ll see what happens in the future, but I definitely loved every second that I was blessed to come play here in New York.”
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