Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
While the Mets offense has been inconsistent recently, Jeff McNeil has just kept hitting. McNeil continued that trend on Tuesday when he went 2-for-4 in the Mets’ 4-1 loss to the Cubs. That multi-hit game came as the right fielder and third-place hitter as the Mets move him around the lineup in an effort to score more runs.
Regardless of where McNeil hits in the lineup or plays in the field, he’s continued to hit for a high average during his bounce-back 2022 season. After his two-hit game on Tuesday, his average is up to .323 for the year. That ranks second in Major League Baseball and is creeping closer to Freddie Freeman‘s .329 batting average.
The 30-year-old is slashing .323/.373/.450 with 36 doubles, 1o home runs, 56 RBIs, 137 wRC+, and a 4.8 fWAR that has already tied his career-high set back in 2019. It’s been quite the turnaround for McNeil after he hit .251 in 2021 and had a career-worst 92 wRC+.
Though he’s been great all season, McNeil has been even better since the All-Star break with a .357/.389/.500 batting line. Since August 5, McNeil hasn’t struck out twice in a single game and he has more extra-base hits (13) than strikeouts (11) during that span. His 11.2 strikeout percentage for the season is the sixth lowest among qualified hitters.
McNeil hasn’t been a slouch in the field where he’s been seven outs above average at second base and has also played right field and left field. The defense, hitting, and good baserunning have McNeil combined for a 4.8 fWAR this season, which ranks 12th among all National League players.
As the Mets try to hold onto their slim division lead down the stretch, McNeil will try to catch Freeman for the batting title. McNeil has made it known he would love to win a batting title, and if he does, he’s been promised a car by teammate Francisco Lindor. However, Lindor said, “I didn’t say what kind of car.”
