JB’s Fantasy Baseball Advice: Finding a cheap mid-20s power source

Jeff McNeil

If you judge McNeil by his looks and his 12th-round draft status, he screams utility player. He’s 26 years old, 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds. When he stands at the plate, he doesn’t scare anyone. But he has done nothing but hit at just about every level he has every played. He entered Sunday hitting .332 in his first 244 major-league at-bats and had a stunning 2018 season in the minors, hitting .342 with 19 home runs, 50 extra-base hits and a 1.028 OPS in 339 at-bats.

That was after playing only 51 games between the 2016 and 2017 seasons because of injuries. McNeil has never hit less than .292 in any full season, so his hitting skill should be trusted at this point. Beyond that, his versatility is helpful. He came up as a second baseman, but now qualifies at third base and outfield in most formats. His future may be in left field depending upon what happens with Yoenis Cespedes, although third base is a possibility considering the age of Todd Frazier and Jed Lowrie. Second base is unlikely with Andres Gimenez and Ronny Mauricio in the Mets minor league system.

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But the bottom line is this: When you can hit like McNeil, teams find a way to get you in the lineup. McNeil is the product of a good college program at Long Beach State, so he came into pro baseball with a strong sense of how to survive.

Of the four players mentioned, he might have the best tools to actually thrive long-term.