Mets: Three Michael Conforto predictions for the 2021 season
Michael Conforto had an incredible season in 2020, finally putting it all together albeit for 60 games in a pandemic shortened season. However, the 2021 season is a new season and the New York Mets starting right fielder will try to use his 2020 successes to get even better.
Conforto is a bright young star in baseball and does not get the respect he deserves for not only his offensive ability but also his improved defense since he became the full-time right fielder.
The following three predictions for Michael Conforto’s 2021 season are realistic but also lofty enough that if they come true the Mets could have a very successful season as a team, potentially making a deep playoff run at the end of the season.
Michael Conforto gives the Mets a top-five MVP season
It cannot be understated how good of a season Conforto had in 2020 and in 2021 he will get even better resulting in a top-five MVP finish in the National League.
It is incredibly difficult to predict who outright wins the MVP of the league, but with the way, Conforto played in 2020 and what he is capable of it is quite easy to see how Conforto could finish in the top five of voting.
It is going to be a very crowded ballot for National League MVP with Cody Bellinger, Fernando Tatis Jr., Freddie Freeman always in the running, but Conforto is just as talented as those guys and can garner some MVP votes if he continues to improve his game.
A second trip to the All-Star Game
Conforto made his first All-Star appearance in 2017 after hitting .284/.403/.542/.945 with 29 extra-base hits and 41 RBIs in the first half of that season.
It’s a shame that 2020 was a shortened season because Conforto was on track to achieve this goal last season with his .322/.412/.515/.927 slash line over the 60-game season. However, the 2020 season will be one to build upon for Conforto and make 2021 another great season. If Conforto can do this, he will be rewarded with his second All-Star appearance. Just another reason why Conforto should be locked up to a long-term extension now before he has a career year like he seemed destined for had 2020 been a full season.
The National League outfield is one of the deepest positions in baseball and it is a battle every year to see which outfielders make the team. The All-Star game has largely become a popularity contest but if Conforto can put up the numbers he did in 2020 it should be quite easy for him to get to Atlanta and be in his second All-Star game.
The Mets are set up to potentially have a lot of players make All-Star appearances this coming season and Conforto may get lost in the shuffle when it comes to voting and evaluating the potential All-Star selections. However, Conforto is the Mets best all-around player and will benefit immensely from all of the protection the Mets have in the middle of the lineup.
Conforto records a 30+ doubles and 30+ home run season
The 30/30 club within the Mets franchise is a small one. Only eleven Mets in franchise history have reached 30+ doubles and 30+ home runs in the same season. Those players consist of some expected names and some surprising names. The eleven men to reach this milestone are:
- David Wright
- Darryl Strawberry
- Carlos Beltran
- Carlos Delgado
- Howard Johnson
- Pete Alonso
- Robin Ventura
- Todd Hundley
- Bernard Gilkey
- Mike Cameron
- Lenny Dykstra
That’s it. That’s the list that in 2021 Michael Conforto will join. He came close in 2019, coming one double shy of entering the club. Conforto has the offensive ability to be a perennial member of this club because he spreads the ball all over the field and has true line-to-line power.
However, just because a player is talented doesn’t mean they are guaranteed to join this club. Nothing against some of the guys on the list but it can be kind of a fluke to make it or not make it. Mike Cameron did it once in his entire career and it was with the Mets in 2004 when he hits exactly 30 doubles and 30 home runs. Adversely, Mike Piazza, one of the best offensive players the Mets have ever had, never achieved this milestone in the eight years he was in Queens.
Conforto is different, however. As previously mentioned, the Mets lineup in 2021 has so much protection in it and they may not even be done adding bats and the DH in the National League is not official yet. The protection allows Conforto to get good pitches to hit which will allow him to drive the ball.
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2021 will be a big season for Michael Conforto and if he achieves these goals, he will finally get the respect he deserves as one of the best outfielders in the National League.