SF Giants: Michael Conforto leaves game with left calf tightness
In the top of the fourth inning of Wednesday night's game between the SF Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, Giants right fielder Michael Conforto was removed from the game and replaced by Bryce Johnson. Conforto had not come to the plate in the previous inning, and without any clear strategic explanation for the early-game move, an injury seems like the most likely explanation. The team later announced he was removed with left calf tightness.
Conforto was one of the Giants most significant free-agent signings this offseason. While Conforto missed the entire 2022 season after undergoing shoulder surgery, he was one of the best outfielders in the National League from 2016-2020. So far this season, he has arguably been the Giants best all-around postion player.
The Giants eased Conforto back to a big-league workload this spring, and by the end of the preseason, he looked like the best position player on the team. Entering play on Wednesday, Conforto had a team-high three home runs on the season with a .237/.383/.474 triple-slash in 47 plate appearances.
A Seattle, Washington native, Conforto hit .259/.358/.484 with 30 home runs per 162 games from 2015-2020. In fact, Conforto hit at least 27 homers in a season for three consecutive years from 2017-2019. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Conforto hit .322/.412/.515 line with 12 doubles and 9 home runs in 54 games of the Mets 60 games.
While no injury is good news for a player, given Conforto's recent history of shoulder injuries, it's a positive sign that he was not removed with an injury tied to his surgically repaired shoulder. The veteran outfielder's contract also includes an opt-out after this season, which he presumably was hoping to exercise with a resurgent 2023 campaign.
With Austin Slater and Mitch Haniger already on the injured list, the Giants can ill afford to lose another outfield option, particularly a hitter as potent as Conforto. If Michael Conforto is forced to miss extended time, the SF Giants would likely recall left-handed hitting corner bat Matt Beaty from Triple-A Sacramento.
