When the Mets take on the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night, it will be Michael Conforto‘s first time playing against his old team.
Conforto left New York after the 2021 season and then missed all of 2022 due to injury before signing with the Giants this offseason. The 2014 first-round pick out of Oregon State burst on to the scene in 2015 and played a crucial role in the Mets’ run to the World Series, as he’d go on to become an All-Star in 2017 and hit 132 home runs runs with 396 RBI over 757 games in seven seasons in New York.
The 30-year-old spoke to reporters before Thursday’s game and said he’s enjoyed his time in San Francisco so far and is excited to see some of his former teammates during the four-game series.
“It’s been great honestly, they’ve welcomed me with open arms here,” Conforto said. “It’s an organization that I’ve admired from afar. I’ve heard from Flo [Wilmer Flores]I’ve heard from JD [Davis], I’ve heard from a lot of players just how they treat guys over here. And obviously a history of success in this early, ’10, ’12, ’14. So I’ve had a lot of fun here, it’s all still new, it’s just our second homestand of the year.
“So I’m getting used to my surroundings, living over across the bridge in East Bay. I’m just getting comfortable. Man, it’s just good to be back in the swing of a major league season. It’s just good to be back . I’m excited to see some of these guys over here, it’s been a long time so I’m excited to see them.”
Conforto was asked if he’s thought what it’s going to feel like playing against some of his former Mets teammates, and said he’s looking forward to the moment and even texted with Brandon Nimmo on Wednesday night.
“I’ve gotten to, I’ve spoken a little bit, I texted with Nimms a bit last night,” Conforto said. “I’ve been watching since afar, keeping up on over the offseason some of the guys getting paid, just checking in on spring training and everything.
“Those guys were my family for six, seven years, so that doesn’t go away, that’s for sure. I like to keep checking in and making sure I’m aware of what’s going on. I’m excited to play against them , I think it’s going to be a really fun experience and I’m excited to get back to New York as well.”
Conforto spoke briefly about his departure from the Mets during the spring training, saying at the time he had no regrets on the decision. He was asked if the Mets had any talks with him during the offseason, but said there wasn’t much discussion.
“I mean I think there was just very, maybe brief checking in, there wasn’t a ton of conversation about it,” Conforto said. “I mean I think it’s not that I wouldn’t have come back, I think there were just better opportunities elsewhere for me and this was a great opportunity. I think I’m happy where I ended up and I really like the guys in that clubhouse. And like I said before, I’ve just been welcomed with open arms and put in a position where I can go out there and try to help the team win games.”
One of the reasons that his transition to San Francisco has gone well so far is the number of familiar faces in the Giants clubhouse. Conforto said that playing with JD Davis again has been “a blast,” and that it’s “good to be back” with Wilmer Flores as he was someone Conforto looked up to when they were in New York together.
“It’s good to have some of those guys, we can reminisce on some of those memories and we’re building new ones here,” Conforto said.
He went on to say that he misses all of New York City’s great food options, and even stays in contact with people who work for the team and at Citi Field. Conforto then noted some of his favorite Mets memories and added that he’s excited to come back to New York in July.
“I mean I got to say the food,” Conforto said. “I really love that ballpark too. I miss my teammates, I miss the guys that worked at Citi. Some of the security guys, my family still talks with Dom. The clubbies, I’ll still text with some of the clubbies. Bullpen catchers over there, obviously the players, but aside from that, it’s just a family that I built over there. The buzz in the city too, the early part of my career. COVID kind of threw a wrench in that, but before then, the energy in that city is awesome.”
Conforto added: “Favorite moment has to be one of the clinching series in ’15 and then hitting home runs in the World Series. Maybe clinching against the Cubs, sweeping the Cubs was awesome. Walk-off hit against the Nationals in ’19. There’s a lot of them for sure.”