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New York Mets: Michael Conforto has just scratched surface of MLB success

By Derek Snyder |
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 18: Michael Conforto #30 of the New York Mets hits a two-RBI single during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field on September 18, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 18: Michael Conforto #30 of the New York Mets hits a two-RBI single during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field on September 18, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

Michael Conforto has been great since being called-up to the New York Mets in 2015. Here’s why he is just scratching the surface of major MLB success.

All the way back in 2014, the New York Mets made a fantastic choice with their 10th overall pick in the MLB Draft. There’s always some hesitation with drafting a prospect who has spent three or four years of their career in college, but the Mets felt pretty darn confident in the young outfielder from Oregon State University.

Needless to say, he’s moved through New York’s minor-league system extremely fast, giving the team a young, reliable outfielder that has played fantastic baseball. However, I believe Conforto’s early success in the big-leagues is just the tip of the iceberg for what he can accomplish in MLB – something that should be very scary for every other ball-club in the NL East.

Just look at how Conforto’s hitting numbers have improved each year he’s been with the Mets – courtesy of MLB Stats: 

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  • 2015: 9 home-runs, 26 RBIs, 17 walks, .335 OBP and .270 batting average
  • 2016: 12 home-runs, 42 RBIs, 36 walks, .310 OBP and .220 batting average
  • 2017: 27 home-runs, 68 RBIs, 57 walks, .382 OBP and .279 batting average

What you need to understand is that Conforto was able to improve his batting average and on-base percentage with 69 more at-bats in 2017 than he had in 2016. If you’ve been around the game of baseball for any amount of time, you’ll quickly realize that time works against averages, especially in hitting.

There’s a law of averages that eventually works against a hitter over time, but Conforto smashed his numbers at the plate from a year ago. Not only does this prove how great of a player the 24-year-old is becoming, but it shows how willing he is to improve and get better each and every season.

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If he continues to show this kind of dedication, it could potentially give the Mets what they need in order to get back into the National League Playoffs in the near future. Until then, New York fans need to enjoy the type of player Conforto is and not take for granted the type of perennial All-Star he is sure to become.

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