LOS ANGELES — Jeff McNeil missed over a month earlier than returning to the Mets roster on Sunday, however that doesn’t essentially imply he can be restricted to a bench position.
The veteran utilityman, who was positioned on the NLCS roster following a brief rehab of his proper wrist, was absent from the beginning lineup for a 9-0 Sport 1 loss to the Dodgers.
However supervisor Carlos Mendoza stated he received’t hesitate to make use of McNeil in a beginning position if it is sensible on a specific day.
“His bat-to-ball expertise, that’s his calling,” Mendoza stated. “That’s what he’s been his entire profession. I’m going to return to spring coaching the place he didn’t play that many video games and he was in our Opening Day lineup due to his bat-to-ball expertise.”
McNeil, who performed Friday and Saturday within the Arizona Fall League to sharpen his expertise, is happy he’ll get an opportunity to contribute after fracturing the wrist final month on successful by pitch.
“Simply being on this group for so long as I’ve and never getting too deep within the playoffs it means lots to play in such a giant collection right here,” McNeil stated. “I’m simply tremendous joyful.”
McNeil had a .923 OPS following the All-Star break after sputtering within the first half.
McNeil’s return couldn’t have are available a greater place — he grew up two hours north of Dodger Stadium in Santa Barbara.
“I used to be a Dodgers fan rising up,” McNeil stated. “It means lots to play on this ballpark. I bear in mind once I bought known as up in 2018 this is without doubt one of the first locations I bought to play. It was fairly cool and particular for me to play on this ballpark.”
Luisangel Acuña remained as a bench possibility, going hitless in a pinch-hit at-bat within the ninth, as Adam Ottavino was omitted from the NLCS roster to create area for McNeil.
“The flexibility, there’s lots to love,” Mendoza stated, referring to Acuna. “In a collection like this, it’s going to permit us to be extra aggressive.”
Danny Younger made his first look of the postseason, strolling one in 1 ¹/₃ scoreless innings, as he stays an choice to cease the left-handed threats the Dodgers have of their lineup.
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