The once unheralded Jeff McNeil isn’t getting overlooked anymore. Not only did McNeil receive All-Star honors yesterday, but he surpassed Dodgers’ superstar Cody Bellinger for the MLB lead in batting average.
In what was a spectacular night for the Mets’ leadoff hitter, McNeil delivered the go-ahead hit in yesterday’s 8-5 win over the first-place Atlanta Braves. His clutch performance helped the Mets snap their seven-game losing streak, and his three hits raised his average to .348 on the season.
“It’s a dream of mine to win a batting title,” McNeil said to reporters after the game. “We’ve got a long way to go, so hopefully I can keep it up.”
McNeil has been incredible ever since his call-up to the majors a season ago. While many thought that his .329/.381/.471 batting line from last year was a fluke, he’s now proven himself as an excellent hitter and an on base machine.
He owns a .412 on base percentage this season, which ranks inside the top five in the MLB. Additionally, he is providing extra base power with six homeruns, 23 doubles and a .509 slugging percentage in 71 games.
His .393 wOBA and 149 WRC+ are also up from last year’s wOBA (.368) and wRC+ ( 137.)
Moreover, McNeil’s defense has shined in both the infield and outfield. He owns a positive DRS in left field (2) and at third base (2) this season, so it’s truly been a tremendous all-around year for the 27-year-old.
In a season filled with such heartache in disappointment for the Mets, McNeil, along with fellow All-Star Pete Alonso, have been one of the few bright spots. It’s always entertaining to watch McNeil hit, and it will be exciting to see him at his first All-Star game.
If McNeil does fulfill his dream of winning a batting title, he would join Jose Reyes as the only other Met to do it. Reyes won his in 2011 when he hit .337 to edge out the NL’s MVP Ryan Braun.
McNeil will also face tough competitors like Cody Bellinger to win the batting title, but as McNeil has proven since his debut, it’s never a good idea to count him out.
