The Giants’ outfield will have key pieces returning in 2024.
Right fielder Michael Conforto has opted to participate in the final year of the two-year, $36 million contract he signed with San Francisco last offseason, he confirmed to The Athletic’s Andrew Bagley on Monday. John Heyman of the New York Post first reported the news.
Conforto told Baggery he is excited to play in San Francisco in 2024 under new coach Bob Melvin.
Conforto has been one of the best hitters in MLB over the past few years, but he underwent shoulder surgery in April of that year and will miss the entire 2022 season, leading the Giants to part ways with the veteran slugger last offseason. Ta.
Last season, Conforto appeared in 125 games with the Giants, hitting .239/.334/.384 in 406 at-bats with 15 home runs, 58 RBIs and an OPS that was nearly above the league average of 99. He appeared in 96 games as a right fielder, 18 games as a left fielder, and 13 games as a designated hitter.
Conforto struggled with multiple injuries last season, missing the second half of extra innings with a hamstring injury. However, when healthy, Conforto was one of the Giants’ better hitters and even anchored San Francisco’s offense from mid-to-late May.
Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi has emphasized the team’s desire to use younger, more athletic players to improve their defense, but the Giants’ defense was not bad last season. Folt will return to the outfield next season.
The Giants are scheduled to pay Conforto $18 million in 2024. With the market for free agent outfielders so weak this winter, Conforto refused to try his luck and could have gotten a bigger contract elsewhere in order to get his contract back with San Francisco.
Download and follow the Giants Talk podcast