Conforto’s three-run blast hands Giants 4-1 win over Correa, Twins

May 23, 2023, 8:33 AM

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 22: San Francisco Giants Outfield Michael Conforto (8) hits a three-run home ...

(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

Michael Conforto knew it would take some time to find his footing in his return to the diamond, and the former All-Star is starting to put things together for the San Francisco Giants.

The 30-year-old’s three-run home run to left-center was the difference during the Giants’ 4-1 win over Carlos Correa and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis.

It didn’t take long for Conforto and the Giants to make their mark against the Twins as the outfielder’s three-run shot gave San Francisco its fourth run of the game before Minnesota starter Bailey Ober had recorded a single out.

With runners on second and third with no outs, Conforto made the right-hander pay for leaving a 92-mile-per-hour four-seam fastball over the plate.

"This is the Michael Conforto everybody expects to see…"

Literally one second later: pic.twitter.com/x9jJyM0rhE

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) May 22, 2023

Conforto drove the ball 413 feet over the left-center field wall into the Giants’ bullpen in what was the former New York Mets’ fifth home run over his past 11 games.

“The guys before me set the table with great at-bats, not chasing up there, kind of forcing Ober back down into the zone, and I think that really set it up for my at-bat going up there,” Conforto said following the win. “We weren’t chasing up where he likes to throw the fastball. He had to come down and just put a good swing on it. Just a good approach by the team.”

Over the past 11 games, Conforto has looked every bit like the type of player San Francisco had hoped he would be when the team inked him to a two-year, $36 million contract. Since May 10, Conforto is batting .325 with five home runs, 12 RBI, and a .378 on-base percentage.

“Similar to the guy that we saw in some of his best years,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said of Conforto’s strong stretch. “Very disciplined at the plate, taking good, aggressive swings and looking for a pitch to drive to the opposite field like he did tonight.”

Conforto had struggled to a slow start in his return to the Major Leagues, but it’s been encouraging to see him string together a long stretch of solid performances while cutting down on strikeouts (seven over 11 games). The success has also been encouraging for Conforto, who says he didn’t expect to return to immediate success.

“I’d be naïve to think I could just jump right back in and not have to take any lumps,” Conforto said of his return to baseball following a year-plus break that was due to recovering from a shoulder injury.

“So, I’ve been trying to give myself a little bit of grace, but it’s hard. You want to go out there and just set the world on fire, but it’s a tough game. You just always got to be humble and keep working hard.”