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Michael Conforto makes 21st-century Cubs history with home run vs. Tigers appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago Cubs are putting on a show against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, leading 9-0 entering the seventh inning. Helping lead their cause was outfielder Michael Conforto.
Conforto entered the game as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning and immediately hit a two-run home run. It was his fourth pinch hit home run of the 2026 season, matching the highest total by a Cubs hitter since Glenallen Hill in 1999, via Christopher Kamka of the Marquee Sports Network.
Signed to a one-year deal over the offseason, Conforto has served as a key reserve for Chicago in his debut with the team. Over 66 games, he is now hitting .245 with nine home runs and 24 RBIs. He may not be the All-Star he was in 2017. But Conforto has proven to at least be a trustworthy, veteran bat when called upon.
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Furthermore, his power stroke hasn’t gone anywhere. Four pinch hit home runs may just seem like a quirky stat. But it could affect how manager Craig Counsell determines those pinch hit opportunities. Clearly, Conforto has proven he can come off the bench cold and still produce. If a situation like that arises in the playoffs, the Cubs need Conforto to remain reliable when called upon.
Assuming Chicago holds onto their lead, they’ll move to 57-44 on the season. They entered the game holding a 4.5 game lead over the the competition for the top Wild Card spot. Conforto may not be the first player Cubs fans conjure up of when they think of the team’s offensive success. But at least when it comes to pinch hitting, the outfielder has been elite.
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