The Los Angeles Dodgers strengthened their outfield options before the start of the season by securing Michael Conforto on a one-year, $17 million contract, followed by an agreement with Teoscar Hernández. Conforto, a veteran hitter, was expected to add offensive power; however, he has struggled significantly in his initial games with the team.
Michael Conforto’s Difficult Start Marked by Low Batting Numbers
Entering Sunday’s play, Conforto’s batting average stands at a disappointing .163, accompanied by a .297 on-base percentage and a .269 slugging percentage. Over 67 games this season, he has accumulated just 14 extra-base hits and 13 RBIs. Notably, his OPS+ of 63 represents the lowest mark of his 10-year major league career, signaling a substantial decline from previous seasons. Despite brief moments hinting at potential improvement, Conforto has struggled to sustain any offensive momentum, managing only six hits in his last 46 at-bats since June.
Dodgers Leadership Optimistic About Conforto’s Performance Recovery
Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, openly recognized that Conforto has not met the expectations set for this season but remains hopeful about his prospects in the coming months. Friedman emphasized the work Conforto is putting into improving his game and expressed confidence in a positive turnaround. He remarked,
“To date, obviously, Michael hasn’t performed up to what he expected or we expected, but, watching the way he is working, watching the progress being made, I would bet that his next two months are way better than his last two months. Obviously, like we will with all of our players, we will continue to assess where they are. The important thing is, if we have an injury or (poor) performance, do we feel like we have different ways to maneuver? We do.” —Andrew Friedman, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations
Adjustments in Conforto’s Batting Approach
Throughout the season, Conforto has concentrated on refining key elements of his offensive skills, including plate discipline and his bat path. The Dodgers have maintained their trust in the 32-year-old outfielder largely due to his previously strong track record. One significant challenge contributing to his struggles has been his difficulty with fastballs, an area where his slugging percentage has fallen nearly 100 points compared to last year.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts identified this issue clearly, stating,
“Probably just not getting to the heater. I think that’s probably the start of it.” —Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
Roberts further elaborated on how missing fastballs can lead to chasing pitches outside the strike zone, explaining,
“When you don’t hit the fastball, that starts to lend to a little cheating and chasing on spin. We’ve got to get him back to the heater, to the big part of the field. He’s working on that. He knows it. It’s not something he doesn’t know, he’s not trying to miss fastballs. So that’s probably the genesis of it.” —Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
Hyeseong Kim’s Emerging Role and Competition for Playing Time
Although Michael Conforto has been the primary starter in left field for most of the season, he did not participate in consecutive games before returning for the series against the Washington Nationals. His absence opened the door for outfielder Hyeseong Kim, who started the final two games facing the San Diego Padres. Manager Dave Roberts stressed that Kim’s strong performance has earned him continued playing time, saying,
“I see him playing a lot still. I do think that in a meritocracy, Hyeseong has earned opportunities, and I don’t want to get him to lose his mojo and sit for four, five or six days, and expect good at-bats.” —Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
Roberts added,
“So I think he’s earned the opportunity to get more of a consistent look, and we’ll go from there.” —Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
Outlook for Michael Conforto and Dodgers’ Roster Management
The Los Angeles Dodgers remain focused on managing their roster dynamically, ready to make changes if injuries or continued performance issues arise. Despite Conforto’s current difficulties, the organization’s leadership and coaching staff are optimistic about his ability to recover and contribute significantly in the latter part of the season. With the combination of faith in his work ethic and the presence of emerging talents like Hyeseong Kim, the team aims to maintain competitiveness while navigating player development and performance fluctuations.