MINNEAPOLIS -- Jeff McNeil, center fielder? It¡¯s about to happen in the Minor Leagues. And it could happen at the highest level, as well.
McNeil is scheduled to play center field on his rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie on Thursday, as the Mets look to refresh his versatility -- and supplement their outfield options -- with Jose Siri about to hit the injured list.
McNeil played three games in center field in 2023, plus another three at the low levels of the Minors from 2013-15. He also appeared in center 21 times in college, but that¡¯s the extent of his experience at the position.
In recent years, McNeil has served almost exclusively as a second baseman and corner outfielder. But he has long been one of the organization¡¯s most versatile defenders.
¡°This is nothing new for him,¡± Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. ¡°He¡¯s played there before. But we wanted to take advantage of his opportunity in the Minor Leagues. He¡¯s on board with it.¡±
Currently, McNeil is rehabbing from a strained right oblique muscle, which he injured midway through Spring Training. He¡¯s already played three rehab games at Single-A St. Lucie and will appear in at least one more on Thursday. After that, the Mets could call him back to New York for a check-up, before sending him to the upper Minors. Or they could proceed cautiously, leaving McNeil in St. Lucie for an additional spell.
With McNeil sidelined to begin the season, Brett Baty and Luisangel Acu?a opened the year in something approximating a second-base platoon, but Baty¡¯s cold start has resulted in Acu?a more recently receiving the lion¡¯s share of playing time. The Mets have also been giving Acu?a pregame reps in center field, though he has yet to play that position in the Majors.
Siri, who fractured his left fibula last Saturday in Oakland, will hit the injured list on Thursday and miss weeks if not months. The Mets have been waiting to place him there so they can shuttle pitchers in and out of the Minors without keeping anyone down for a full 15-day option period. Once the Mets do put Siri on the IL, they can call up an extra outfielder -- the most obvious option being veteran Jos¨¦ Az¨®car.
The McNeil situation is more about increasing Mendoza¡¯s future options than it is about turning him into a full-time outfielder. Since Siri¡¯s injury, the Mets have relied almost exclusively on Tyrone Taylor in center. But Taylor has struggled, with a .400 OPS over his first 11 games, opening the door for others to play the position. Brandon Nimmo, the Mets¡¯ longtime center fielder, remains a possibility there. So does Acu?a and, apparently, McNeil.
¡°There¡¯s a reason why we¡¯re doing it,¡± Mendoza said. ¡°He¡¯s done it before. But we¡¯ve also got Acu?a. We¡¯ve got Tyrone. We just felt like since he¡¯s down there, why not? Use this opportunity to get some exposure.¡±