MIAMI — Jeff McNeil, a star second baseman and outfielder for the Mets, is an distinctive hitter with a standout capability to make contact. He received the 2022 Nationwide League batting title with a .326 common over 148 video games. His common over his 5 major-league seasons is .307. Over the winter, the Mets rewarded the 30-year-old McNeil with a four-year, $50 million contract extension.
But, forward of a season by which the Mets have outrageously excessive expectations, McNeil has barely been taking part in. As a member of the USA’ stacked World Baseball Traditional roster — which incorporates different stars able to dealing with his positions, equivalent to Mookie Betts and Tim Anderson — McNeil has logged solely 11 plate appearances through the two-week match. Solely three U.S. gamers have had fewer.
“Clearly, you would like you had been taking part in extra,” McNeil mentioned whereas standing within the dugout on Sunday, earlier than the USA toppled Cuba, 14-2, to advance to Tuesday’s ultimate in opposition to Japan. However McNeil wasn’t precisely complaining when he uttered these phrases.
“That’s simply how good this group is,” he continued, citing Anderson, the Chicago White Sox shortstop who shifted to second base for the match. “We’re taking part in good baseball proper now and we’re going through plenty of left-handed beginning pitching as effectively. T.A. has been doing nice on the market, so preserve rooting for him. The general expertise has been unbelievable.”
That, finally, is what has given McNeil perspective all through the W.B.C. Certain, he may not be taking part in as a lot as he’s used to or the Mets might want, however McNeil mentioned he had nonetheless realized from his time in pressure-packed video games by which he was surrounded by stars.
“All of those video games — particularly the Mexico recreation and Venezuela recreation — have been considerably what I think about the World Sequence could be like with the form of ambiance,” he mentioned. “You see that and get used to taking part in in that and I believe it helps down the road.”
There’s an underlying predicament in accepting an excused absence out of your M.L.B. membership to take part within the W.B.C., particularly for a rustic with plenty of stars: You get to characterize your nation, however you may lose taking part in time. For gamers from locations such because the Dominican Republic, Japan, Puerto Rico or Venezuela — the place the W.B.C. issues much more than it does in the USA, and T.V. rankings have typically damaged information — that was typically a no brainer.
Whereas the USA attracted many star place gamers, it struggled with top-level pitchers. A number of cited harm considerations or the bodily toll of ramping up sooner than traditional forward of a six-month common season. Some gamers, like Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers, merely couldn’t get the wanted clearances to take part. (Gamers are required to be coated by insurance coverage to take part.)
A number of the fears expressed by groups had been confirmed, partly, when Edwin Díaz, the star nearer of the Mets, suffered a season-ending knee harm whereas celebrating one in every of Puerto Rico’s wins. Then Jose Altuve, a star second baseman for the Houston Astros, sustained a damaged thumb when he was hit by a pitch throughout Venezuela’s recreation in opposition to the USA on Saturday.
Regardless of all of these elements, McNeil needed to play. The truth is, he sought out Supervisor Mark DeRosa to precise curiosity, and was requested to hitch when Boston Pink Sox second baseman Trevor Story underwent elbow surgical procedure in January. McNeil needed to alter his traditional preparation for the season, however he insisted he was completely satisfied.
“I’ll be positive,” he mentioned, after which pointed to the 2022 preseason shortened by a labor stoppage. “We had three weeks of spring coaching final yr and I received a batting title. I don’t want that a lot time.” When he returned to the Mets, he mentioned, he may go to the again fields at their spring coaching facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and get further at-bats in simulated or minor-league video games.
Total, McNeil, like lots of his teammates who took half within the W.B.C., has discovered the match rewarding. First-time contributors like pitcher Adam Wainwright, outfielder Mike Trout and Betts have gushed in regards to the occasion. Betts has appeared re-energized, whereas Wainwright and Trout have mentioned that this has been essentially the most gratifying baseball expertise of their careers.
“I knew getting in it was going to be a enjoyable time, however I by no means knew it was going to be this enjoyable,” Trout mentioned final week. Betts added, “I encourage those that are watching, come be part of, come play for Staff U.S.A., as a result of it is a lot of enjoyable.”
Two gamers beloved their 2017 W.B.C. journeys a lot that they signed as much as come again: Paul Goldschmidt, the St. Louis Cardinals first baseman who received the 2022 Nationwide League Most Precious Participant Award, and his perennial All-Star teammate, third baseman Nolan Arenado. Gamers have additionally mentioned that attending to spend time round rivals-turned-teammates or decide the brains of different standouts has been fruitful.
“Watching their routines and seeing how they go about their enterprise, you perceive why they’re one of the best on this recreation, and I actually take pleasure in that half,” Arenado mentioned of being round Trout and Betts, who’ve 4 M.V.P. awards and 16 All-Star appearances between them.
But it surely’s not simply the gamers. The US teaching workers is stuffed with former stars, together with five-time World Sequence-winning pitcher Andy Pettitte and the Corridor of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. So whereas McNeil had solely 19 plate appearances over six spring coaching video games with the Mets earlier than he left for the W.B.C. — and has had even fewer since — he mentioned he valued engaged on his hitting with Griffey, who’s serving because the group’s hitting coach.
McNeil mentioned he had talked to Griffey about just a few minor issues in his swing and later felt “actually good” throughout batting apply and within the batting cages. “We’ll see in the event that they translate to a recreation,” he added.
Ought to the USA declare its second title on this quadrennial match, maybe extra gamers will probably be prepared to make the leap regardless of the potential downsides.
There have been “in all probability loads of gamers that want they may play,” Arenado mentioned. “This actually is a good match. There’s no motive why the celebrities of our recreation shouldn’t be taking part in on this. I’m grateful that we obtained Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, the faces of our recreation which are taking part in this factor. In case you’re throwing 96 to 100 in spring coaching, that works wherever. So there’s no motive why you may’t do this right here and characterize your nation.”