Conforto, Kluber, rookie Carroll off to good spring starts
San Francisco Giants' Bryce Johnson (58) celebrates in the dugout after scoring off of a sacrifice fly hit by Michael Conforto during the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Scottsdale, Ariz., Thursday, March 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Ashley Landis]
PHOENIX (AP) — Michael Conforto’s once-ailing shoulder appears healthy and the veteran slugger is back to mashing baseballs. The Giants have eased the 30-year-old back on the field after he missed all of 2022 following right shoulder surgery. But even in limited at-bats in the Cactus League, he’s hit four homers, which was tied for the spring lead through Wednesday’s games. Conforto signed a two-year, $36 million contract with the Giants in the offseason. This spring is a reminder of how good the former New York Mets star can be when healthy. He was an All-Star in 2017, hit a career-high 33 homers in 2019 and batted .322 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Red Sox newcomer Corey Kluber and Arizona rookie Corbin Carroll also are looking good this spring.
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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Corey Kluber throws in the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Fort Myers, Fla., Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Gerald Herbert