Met ma’s greatest hit
Slugger Conforto’s gold-medal inspiration
Sweet-swinging Mets outfielder Michael Conforto’s No. 1 fan is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in synchronized swimming. His mom, Tracie. For Mother’s Day, the 24-yearold budding star paid tribute to the person who instilled in him a sense of “pride and work ethic.”
“She always told me to obsess over whatever it is you’re doing,” said Conforto.
The former Tracie Ruiz won gold medals in solo and synchronized swimming at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and a solo silver in Seoul in 1988.
She also gets a gold medal in parenting.
“She was the one driving me from soccer practice to football practice and hitting late at night — and then making dinner,” the ballplayer recalled.
The Mets’ leadoff hitter starred in baseball and football at Redmond High School in Washington state. He played shortstop on the baseball team and quarterback and safety for the football squad.
But his parents were just as proud that he made honor roll.
“They made [academics] very important,” he recalled. “I wasn’t allowed to do what I wanted to do unless I had my grades.
“And when you’re studying you’re not out with your friends getting in trouble . . . It keeps you in the right group of people and focused on the right things,” he said. To this day, Conforto’s mom sends him daily texts of encouragement and inspiration. After Conforto hit a home run against the Marlins on April 9 in a 5-2 Mets win, Tracie texted: “Prime time ESPN ambush homerun bomb ... so smart ... pa-patience andd power ... enjoy the con-constant pursuitsuit of being even better ... congratsts love momma.”
Conforto’so’s response: “Thanks momma. Love and miss you .”
Three days later, Conforto went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and three runss scored in the Mets’ 5-4 win over the Phillies. The proud mom texted:ed: “So proud of your fo-focus and workwork ... you deserve the crown :) celebrate and then seek to bee better:) .”
Sometimesmes the texts are simply a reminder to hy-hydrate, onee ath-athlete to another.other.
Tracie, 54, told The Post her veryery first textxt was whenn Michael left homeme for Oregonon State. It read: “Michael, the pitch-hers you arere going to faceace in your very first yearr in college arere go-going to haveave no idea whoho you are.”
“Textingg has been fantastic,”” she said. “It’s puttingting your kid in a positive mental frame and keeping itt fun.”
Confortoo told The Post his mom can expect “a mixture of pink, red and white flowers and a box of Godiva chocolates” today. He revealed that prior to the start of each game he says “a little prayer for my entire family right at the end of the National Anthem. A quick thanking for my blessings and my wonderfulful family and pray to keep them safe. There will be a little extra one for my mom onon Mother’s Day.” Tracie noted that Michael didn’t grow up seeing trtrophies around the house — just fafamily photos. “The thing I lovlove most about Michael is he’s rerespectful to his teammates, coachecoaches and the game. He’s humble, enjoyenjoys the game and continues to wwork hard,” she said. With MotherMother’s Day sharing the same date oon the calendar as Derek JeteJeter’s number- retirementtirement ce ceremony, Confortoforto made a confession. “Mets ffans are probablybly nonot going to like this, I know,” he saidsaid, but aside frofrom his mom, J Jeter model.is his role em