New York Mets All-Star Jeff McNeil, rehabbing from the broken ulna he suffered versus Miami on September 25, told Laura Albanese of Newsday he is “feeling good and I’m basically back to my normal offseason routine” following surgery in early-October, adding that the location of the fracture (“not really on the joint or where it flexes”) was beneficial to the healing process.
According to Albanese, the Mets “balked” at McNeil being included in trade discussions with interested teams this offseason (Cleveland was reportedly inquiring about McNeil in a package for Francisco Lindor), and rightfully so.
Since his MLB debut (July 24, 2018), McNeil’s .321 batting average, .383 on-base percentage, and 141 wRC+ rank third, 13th, and 13th, respectively, among all qualified major league hitters over that span.
Combine his offensive prowess with the solid defense he brings to the table at a wide array of positions (two outs above average at both second and third base last season; -4 OAA in the corner outfield spots, per Statcast), and the Mets have themselves a whole mess of production at an extremely reasonable cost for the foreseeable future (McNeil hits free agency in 2024).
Despite a number of injury setbacks littered throughout his minors tenure (four IL trips from 2016 to 2017), McNeil, 25, hasn’t missed a beat since arriving in The Show. His ascent to this point has even left him a bit slackjawed, as per Albanese.
“A couple of years ago, I was on the Rule 5 draft and I guess no one wanted me. It was a really tough couple of years. I knew I had the talent and everything, but I missed a bunch of time,” he said. “When I had the opportunity to play, I made the most of it. So to see where I am now, see where I was two years ago, it’s pretty incredible.”
As for the 2020 Mets, McNeil has high hopes.
“We’re just trying to build off what we did last year. Last year was a really exciting second half to the season […] Everyone is going to come into camp extremely confident”.
Check out Laura’s full article (link above) for some more insight from McNeil, as well as an update on young Willow McNeil and her new feline friend, Mac.
