There’s something about a left-handed swing that just looks right. The arc, the follow-through, the way it seems to hang in the air a little longer—it’s the kind of motion that makes you dream of big moments. Michael Conforto had that swing once. It was the kind that carried him through the minors and into the bright lights of Queens, where he was supposed to be a star for the New York Mets.

But baseball has a way of humbling even the prettiest swings. In today’s game, pitchers throw harder, move the ball more, and make hitting feel nearly impossible. Conforto’s career, after a promising start, began to fade. The potential that once felt limitless turned into something you look back on with a touch of nostalgia—a reminder of what could have been.

Then came Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth, Conforto stepped in as a pinch-hitter for the Chicago Cubs. And for one perfect moment, the old magic returned. He crushed a walk-off home run, sending the crowd into a frenzy and reminding everyone of the player he was always meant to be.

It may be Conforto’s last great moment in the sun. His career has taken enough twists and turns that it’s hard to say how much he has left. But on this night, he had it all. And in a game that so often humbles, that one swing was a beautiful reminder of the good ol’ days.