The Chicago Cubs have been searching for offensive contributors this season after parting ways with Kyle Tucker and with new addition Alex Bregman struggling.<\/p>\n
And few players have delivered a bigger surprise at the plate than veteran outfielder Michael Conforto.<\/p>\n
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Conforto has been a big-league contributor in the past, but after a harsh season with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, it seemed that his offensive production might never return. But the veteran slugger has seen a surge with the Cubs this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cConforto already earned cult hero status among Cubs fans with his pinch-hit, walk-off homer against the Reds on May 4 at Wrigley Field,\u201d Jordan Bastian wrote for MLB.com. \u201cThe veteran outfielder has since become a semi-regular part of the lineup, given the steady production that began in a part-time role has continued into his starts.\u201d<\/p>\n
FORBES | By Peter Chawaga Giants\u2019 Patrick Bailey Replacement Leaves Team After 2-Day Stint<\/p>\n
That surge has called for a renewed look at Conforto\u2019s stint with the Dodgers, where his poor season at the plate eventually devolved into a cut from the roster once the team entered the postseason.<\/p>\n
![\"MLB](\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Michael-Conforto_35edde.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&w=780\")
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As Conforto enjoys a revitalization with a new National League contender, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently acknowledged that the organization believed it was seeing signs of a turnaround just before the decision to remove him from the playoff roster was made.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat really bummed me out,\u201d Roberts said of cutting Conforto last year, per The Athletic\u2019s Ken Rosenthal. \u201cI couldn\u2019t be happier for his success.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roberts also specified the flaw in Conforto\u2019s approach last year, which has evidently been corrected with the Cubs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could see that once he was with us, from spring training all throughout the beginning part of the season, he was pressing,\u201d Roberts added, according to Rosenthal. \u201cI could tell by nature he\u2019s a pleaser. He wanted to please his teammates, his coaches, the fans. I tried to give him as much runway as possible. I wanted him to be the guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
FORBES | By Peter Chawaga Dodgers Skipper Sends 4-Word Kyle Tucker Message As Struggles Follow Cubs Exit<\/p>\n
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The comments suggest that the Dodgers believed Conforto\u2019s struggles were rooted more in pressure and timing than in a decline in ability. Roberts said he began to see the hitter he expected during live batting-practice sessions in October, but by then the roster decision had already been made.<\/p>\n
For the Cubs, the turnaround has been a significant bonus. A veteran who looked finished with the Dodgers has suddenly become a productive lineup piece for a team trying to stay in the playoff race.<\/p>\n
And now his one-year contract with the Cubs suddenly seems like a steal.<\/p>\n
![\"Cubs'](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_425,w_5568,h_3132\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/9\/01kjaw46bdyndxd96rny.jpg\")
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\u201c(Conforto) described the free-agent contract he signed with the Cubs \u2014 one year, $2 million \u2014 as a \u2018prove it\u2019 deal,\u201d Rosenthal added. \u201cSo far, Conforto is doing just that. He\u2019s currently batting .266 with four homers and a .904 OPS. The latter figure would be his highest in a full season since 2017.\u201d<\/p>\n
This article was originally published on Forbes.com<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts responded to cutting the Chicago Cubs veteran shortly before a turnaround.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6319,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[97,11,105,238,166,107,48,264,215,58],"class_list":["post-6316","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","tag-alex-bregman","tag-chicago-cubs","tag-dave-roberts","tag-ken-rosenthal","tag-kyle-tucker","tag-los-angeles-dodgers","tag-michael-conforto","tag-patrick-bailey","tag-pittsburgh-pirates","tag-reds"],"yoast_head":"\n