The sky is blue, water is wet, and Jeff McNeil can rake at the plate.
These three things are common knowledge, and it’s why the fan base was pining for the infielder for literal months before he was called up.
McNeil, 26, was decimated by injuries throughout his minor league career prior to this year, where he broke out and tore up pitching at both Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas.
“He’s holding his own and gives you a good at-bat every single time out,” Mets’ co-general manager John Ricco said on Monday. “We’re really happy with what we’ve seen from him so far.”
In 88 games in the minors, the California native hit .342/.411/.617 with 19 homers and 71 RBI prior to his call-up in late July.
Coming into Monday night, he had clubbed two home runs and driven in eight runs while slashing .286/.355/.429 across 25 games (95 at-bats.)
McNeil finished off his weekend with his third consecutive multi-hit game against the Phillies, but was benched Monday night.
He came in as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and punched a single into right and advanced to third on a base knock by Michael Conforto, but failed to score when Amed Rosario hit into a double play.
The rookie has certainly tossed his hat into the ring as an appealing candidate for the second base job next year.
That is, if New York doesn’t sign the beaten and battered Daniel Murphy to a multi-year deal. I’m only half kidding.
