The Los Angeles Dodgers were able to split their series with the New York Mets thanks to a comeback win powered by a go-ahead single from Michael Conforto.
It’s no secret the 2025 season has been a difficult one for Conforto as he’s hit just .166/.313/.271, and with runners on base, it’s been even worse with a .116/.253/.159 slash line.
But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has continued to stick with Conforto, expressing confidence in a turnaround based on his career track record, and a better mental approach at the plate.
“I think with Michael, with guys in scoring position, my take is he wants to kind of pick his teammates up, and there’s a little bit of a try a little too hard in those spots,” Roberts said on Wednesday. “So at times, I think that he is trying to do too much. And then conversely, I think at times he’s a little too passive.
“So we just got to find that middle ground and just find that confidence. I’m trying to show confidence by continuing to run him out there and expect things to change for him.”
Conforto was in an 0-for-30 stretch with runners in scoring position, but he was given the change to break that in the eighth inning on Thursday with a tie game.
Freddie Freeman was intentionally walked, putting runners on first and second for Conforto.
“As soon as first base was open with Freddie on deck, you figure if there’s still a base open, he’s probably getting walked,” Conforto said. “So I was just taking a mindset of ‘I’m going to be up there no matter who pitches and just trying to keep my mind focused on where I wanted to see the ball.’ I got the pitch that I wanted, out, up and over the plate.”
On the first pitch he saw, Conforto lined a ball into left field for a base hit, driving in Andy Pages to give the Dodgers a 6-5 lead against his former team that ended up being the final.
“I think it’s less about who it was against and more about coming through for my team,” Conforto said. “It’s been a grind up to this point. All I want to do is go up there and help us win. In a lot of those situations I’ve come up short, and to be able to come through today, was everything.”
The single represented Conforto’s first big hit with the club, and it could potentially be the one that turns his season around.
“Those are the types of at-bats that will get you going, to get that monkey off your back with a runner in scoring position and come through in a big spot for the team,” Conforto said. “Again, it’s a big moment for me. Just hope to do a lot more of that.”
It also could be a sign his luck is starting to turn around, which in baseball can be just as important as everything else. Even with Conforto’s struggles on the surface level this year, he has maintained solid batted ball data and has posted a batting average that’s roughly .060 points below his expected average.
His actual production has not matched up to the expected results in nearly any area, but sometimes it just takes one good swing to get back on track.
“A couple good swings today before the last at-bat,” Conforto said. “There’s been a lot of that all year. It’s frustrating, and it’s part of the game. Part of baseball.
“But there comes a time when you’ve got to start performing and doing something for your team. Sometimes that makes it a little bit harder to stomach the bad at-bats, but you’ve just got to keep moving forward and keep working.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to keep my mind focused on.”
Michael Conforto appreciates Dodgers’ support
A difficult season will take its toll on any player, and especially one who is both trying to prove himself to his new club and also set himself up for a better contract after the season.
With everything Conforto has gone through on the field, he’s been thankful to have his Dodgers’ teammates there with him.
“These guys have been awesome,” Conforto said. “You spend more time with these guys than your actual family, so they’ve been a part of my family.
“Just nothing but positivity from these guys, trying to keep me smiling, keep me laughing. It’s been great to have their support.”
And with that hit, his teammates also felt some relief for Conforto.
“It doesn’t matter who it is or what you’re going through, if you have a Dodger uniform on, you’re a teammate and a brother of ours,” Mookie Betts said. “Whatever you’re going through, we’re all going through. It was huge.
“I think he definitely felt the love in that situation. We were all cheering for him when he came through with that hit.”
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