PORT ST. LUCIE — Jeff McNeil‘s career path has been anything but linear. When he was in high school, his plan was to play professional golf. After a standout college career at Long Beach State, he entered the pros as an unheralded infielder, drafted in the 12th round in 2013 out of Long Beach State. He wasn’t a standout prospect till he hit his solution to the massive leagues 5 years later.
Since successful the NL batting title in 2022, McNeil has struggled on the plate, hitting .270 in 2023 and .238 in 2024. However after an influence surge within the second half of final season, the Mets utility man is feeling extra like his outdated self once more.
“I’m always trying to be the best version of myself,” he stated this week at Clover Park. “This game is really hard. Guys are going to struggle and not have great years. But, you know, I didn’t have a great year in 2021 and came back in ’22 and won a batting title. I know it’s there.”
McNeil has had sluggish begins on the plate in back-to-back seasons earlier than getting scorching within the second half each years. Final season, he hit .289 with a .923 OPS over his final 149 plate appearances with seven residence runs and 12 doubles. He stopped making an attempt to do an excessive amount of in his at-bats and simply took what he was given.
“I just started trying to drive the ball, he said. “My swing kind of gets in trouble sometimes, once I try to kind of guide the ball out there. My swing gets all kinds of messed up. And I felt like early in the year last year, I was just trying to get singles because I was pressing trying to guide the ball out there instead of just trying to smash it as far as I can. It kind of cleans up my swing as well.”
The left-handed hitter can hit to all fields, however the Mets don’t care the place the ball goes so long as he’s hitting. He labored to construct extra power over the winter with the hope of bettering his bat pace, which rated poorly final season, solely within the thirteenth percentile.
The hot button is getting off to a robust begin this spring. Nagging accidents stalled him final spring, and whereas he tried to make up for it by taking further time within the cages and taking part in in minor league video games on the again fields, he nonetheless began the yr chilly.
“I’m taking this spring training super seriously,” he stated. “I want to go perform, I want to see some good results, I want to play well and then carry that into the season.”
The Mets nonetheless worth his versatility and talent to play nook outfield spots. He’s an vital piece of the lineup who can hit wherever. The Mets are assured the 32-year-old will contribute.
“This guy won a batting title and they don’t just hand those out,” stated supervisor Carlos Mendoza.
NO DILEMMA FOR DREW
Drew Smith reported to camp Monday after coming to an settlement with the Mets on a one-year contract with an choice for 2026 final week. The Mets oversaw his first Tommy John surgical procedure in 2019 and after present process a hybrid Tommy John/inner brace process with the Mets final July, Smith, who grew to become a free agent in November, wished to proceed his medical care with the identical staff.
Smith let the Mets know final summer season that he wished to return to the one large league staff he had ever pitched for. The 2 events had some dialogue in October and November as he traveled with the staff all through their playoff run.
The 31-year-old lived with former Mets reliever Adam Ottavino and his household in October, taking part in Mario Kart together with his youngsters whereas being unable to throw. Being with the Mets and with the Ottavinos was precisely the distraction he wanted to maintain from desirous about an unsure future.
Lastly, on Christmas Eve, the Mets and Smith agreed to phrases.
“There’s nowhere else I’d want to be,” he stated. “I talked to a couple of other teams, but from the get-go this is where I wanted to be. They made it clear that they wanted me to be back, so things felt really good.”
Smith lately started taking part in catch from 60 ft with the hope of returning to the mound by September, which might be the “best-case scenario.”
QUICK HITTERS
Monday marked the primary full-squad exercise of spring. All gamers have reported to camp aside from Joey Meneses, a primary baseman signed to a minor league contract, who’s coping with a visa problem. Meneses might be in camp Tuesday and might work out with the staff, however can’t play video games till he obtains a piece visa.
Proper-hander Clay Holmes threw reside batting observe for the second time Monday, pitching three simulated innings.
Mendoza addressed the complete staff for the primary time this spring, delivering a message about their objectives for the season.
“We’re here to win a championship, and we’ve got to believe that,” Mendoza stated. “But we also understand that we’ve got work to do.”
