NY Mets: 1 hitter meeting, 1 exceeding, 1 coming up short on expectations

Jul 18, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman (left) and first baseman Pete Alonso (20) and catcher Tomas Nido (3) congratulate right fielder Michael Conforto (30) after Conforto hit a two run game winning home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at PNC Park. The Mets won 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 18, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman (left) and first baseman Pete Alonso (20) and catcher Tomas Nido (3) congratulate right fielder Michael Conforto (30) after Conforto hit a two run game winning home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at PNC Park. The Mets won 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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Jul 26, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets right fielder Michael Conforto (30) hits a single during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Nobody has failed to meet expectations more than Michael Conforto

An honorary mention should go to Francisco Lindor, but I think the biggest bust this season has been Michael Conforto. Lindor has played Gold Glove-worthy defense and seemed to at least have a positive effect in the locker room. That’s not to say Conforto has been a negative in the latter. I think he is more of a silent leader than anything else.

Conforto has spent the last few weeks fighting to get over .200. Bouncing above and below the Mendoza Line, there’s zero chance he ends this year with totals that will have general managers drooling to sign him this offseason.

What makes Conforto’s season even rougher is how well the 2020 season went for him. In his 233 trips to the plate in the abbreviated season, the Mets right fielder hit .322/.412/.515 with 9 home runs and 31 RBI. It was the kind of year we had been waiting for. Average, power, and plenty of moments on base made it look like he had finally grown into the superstar we were waiting for.

It hasn’t been the case. From the start, Conforto struggled. While still able to draw his share of walks and put together a solid OBP, his bat seems to have gone silent. Things have been so rough this year that it almost makes his dreaded sophomore slump from 2016 look acceptable.

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A few weeks do remain for some other Mets to meet, exceed, or even fail to meet their expectations for the 2021 season. Which hitters do you think could end up on an October version of this list?

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