PORT STREET LUCIE — Jeff McNeil waited until the final week of spring training, but he’s finally in the Mets’ lineup.
“Obviously we’re a little late, but we still have plenty of time to prepare,” McNeil said Tuesday before his team’s 3-1 win over the Cardinals in an exhibition game at Clover Park.
McNeil played five innings at second base, reached three at-bats, and finished 0-for-2 with one walk.
He is scheduled to take Wednesday off and resume play in the Grapefruit League on Thursday, with the season opener against the Brewers looming on March 28 at Citi Field.
In his first at-bat of the spring, McNeil showed his trademark grit, giving up 11 walks against Lance Lynn. McNeil fouled off six pitches in this at-bat.
“It felt like a normal at-bat at times there,” McNeil said. “I thought if I swung too much there, I wouldn’t be able to get a second at-bat, so please swing for three at-bats.”
McNeil felt discomfort in his biceps early in camp and had to take a break from his swing. He has had to build up gradually over the past two weeks and was not allowed a high-velocity corresponding swing until last weekend.
“Sometimes having fewer at-bats can be an advantage,” McNeil said of his late start. “You don’t develop bad ideas or bad habits. I’m the type of person that just carries my natural abilities into the season, so I’ve always been good early on in live batting practice and things like that, so we’ll see what happens. Let’s do it.”
To add insult to injury, McNeil was in the cleanup spot in his spring debut, but manager Carlos Mendoza downplayed its importance as he looked for his batting order.
“Don’t make too much of a fuss now,” Mendoza said. “We’ve got to get him in at-bats. But the batting skills, the batting average, he’s a hitter. But as we’re talking today, it’s about getting him as many at-bats as possible.”
But Mendoza also said he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of McNeil hitting a cleanup. Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso were the batters in front of McNeil that night.
Not your typical cleanup hitter, McNeil will bring a different look to the spot. And with McNeil as the No. 4 hitter, Mendoza will be able to separate left-handed and right-handed hitters throughout the lineup.
“We can talk about Pete and who’s going to hit behind him, but the way I see it, who’s going to bat in front of him as well?” Mendoza said. “It’s a way to protect him and when you put a guy on base, you’re putting him on the other team whether they want to throw to him or not. Those are some of the things we’re looking at. some, and not necessarily who is behind the attack [Alonso] But who is batting in front of him? ”
McNeil has bounced around the lineup throughout his career and said he doesn’t have a preference on where he bats in the order.
“I’ll do anything,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. I just want to see my name in the lineup every day and anything that helps this team win.”
The Mets’ lineup when they face the Cardinals could be the same as the one shown in the season opener, though not necessarily in the same order. Among them were third baseman Brett Batty, Mark Vientos at DH and Harrison Bader in center field.
McNeil is expected to bounce back from a sluggish season that ended in early September, with production picking up in the final month. Overall, he hit .270/.333/.378 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs.
According to McNeil, his goal before Opening Day is to have about 20 at-bats in exhibition games.
“We need to participate as much as possible. [games] As much as possible,” he said. “I try to get as many at-bats as possible, and I try to watch major league pitchers. [minor league] The environment is different on the side, so hitting in a major league game will be the key.”
