On Monday, David Stearns suggested that the need for center field help had been somewhat diminished because of Jeff McNeil’s growing comfort at the spot.
On Tuesday, for just the second time this season, McNeil was penciled in as the Mets center fielder for a second straight day.
The club says that their confidence is growing in the longtime infielder in center, but cautioned that he probably will not grow into an everyday option at the demanding position.
Playing McNeil on the grass allows the Mets to find spots for Brett Baty (who started at second base), Ronny Mauricio (third) and Mark Vientos (DH), all of whom have shown more with the bat than Tyrone Taylor.
McNeil, meanwhile, has continued to hit and has played an acceptable center field, impressive for a 33-year-old who is in the 20th percentile in sprint speed, according to Statcast.
“Not only making the routine plays, but some of the plays, the balls in the gap, he cuts the ball [off] and keeps that runner at first,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of McNeil before he went 0-for-3 in the 3-2 win over the Angels. “Just things like that that he continues to get more comfortable as he continues to play out there.”
McNeil, who entered play with an .814 OPS, being able to frequently play center to squeeze another bat into the lineup and put Taylor (.572 OPS) on the bench would solve a Mets offensive problem and would dissuade Stearns from making plenty of calls for help with center field.
But the prospect of significant time in center field for McNeil, who has dealt with many injuries including to his hamstring in his eight MLB seasons, gives Mendoza pause.
“We have to be mindful. … We have to take care of him as well,” Mendoza said. “TT will continue to get reps there. He’s a really good player.”
The Mets activated Starling Marte off the injured list.
Marte did not start, but Mendoza said the righty could pinch hit or serve as DH in the coming days.
Marte had been sidelined since July 6 with a knee bruise that was suffered on a rare day Marte played the outfield.
Mendoza said the injury might have surfaced from playing the field, but he also said Marte was playing nearly every day at that point in the season.
Mendoza said he “wouldn’t hesitate” to play Marte in the field again.
“After the [gel] shot, we feel like — he feels like — he’s in a good spot,” Mendoza said.
The Mets placed Brandon Waddell on the 15-day injured list with a right hip impingement that the lefty suffered while slipping on the mound in Friday’s loss to the Reds.
