Mets hopeful Jeff McNeil’s injury isn’t severe
By Mike Luciano
Jeff McNeil is dealing with a leg injury that led to him getting carted off the field.
One of the few shining stars on a New York Mets team that doesn’t have a ton of championship prospects this season is utility player Jeff McNeil, one of the league’s most consistent hitters and versatile defenders. McNeil now risks potentially missing one of the Mets’ more important stretches of the season after he was carted off the field following a tremendous circus catch in left field during last night’s game.
Despondent Mets fans will be pleased to hear that Jon Heyman is reporting that the Mets think McNeil’s injury is nothing more than a bad bruise, which could prevent the team from putting him on the IL.
Sources: Jeff McNeil’s knee X-ray is negative, so the hope is it’s just a bad bruise. Will go for MRI to confirm though. McNeil, the heart of the team, made a run-saving catch while diving into the wall in 1st inning.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 13, 2020
Considering the Mets’ success with Jed Lowrie, a clean bill of health might be the kiss of death for McNeil.
Jeff McNeil is once again starting off the season well for the Mets.
McNeil is fresh off making an All-Star team for the first time in 2019 after going .318 with 23 home runs, 38 doubles, and 75 RBI.
With Pete Alonso struggling to turn it on, Robinson Cano on the IL after starting off well, and Yoenis Cespedes going AWOL and deserting the team in the middle of the season, McNeil is going to be even more important in this shortened season. If McNeil is forced to hit the IL, speedster Billy Hamilton, who replaced McNeil after his injury, might be able to fill in for him in the outfield.
Jeff McNeil is being carted off the field after making this catch. He attempted to walk back to the clubhouse under his own power, but was unable. pic.twitter.com/1FJoK6QIR7
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 13, 2020
The Mets will be without Yoenis Cespedes this season. light. Related Story
In an age where batting average has been tossed to the side in favor of home runs, McNeil is one of the rare players in this league who could roll right out of bed and hit .300, all the while providing excellent versatility. It goes without saying that he is one of the most important Mets position players, if not the most important. Any game that McNeil misses out on is one game too many for the Mets.