Jeff McNeil on his path from major league hopeful to franchise cornerstone: ‘It was tough to stay positive at times’

As it turns out, the Squirrel didn’ t bark up the wrong tree this time around. The Mets made Jeff McNeil’ s four-year, $50 million contract official at Citi Field on Tuesday afternoon. The unknown was a theme of the 2022 NL batting champion’ s path that led him to the big leagues.

As it turns out, the Squirrel didn’t bark up the wrong tree this time around. The Mets made Jeff McNeil’s four-year, $50 million contract official at Citi Field on Tuesday afternoon. The 30-year-old — who self-described as “uptight” — has secured his future with the Amazin’s, something that was in doubt throughout his early professional baseball career.

The unknown was a theme of the 2022 NL batting champion’s path that led him to the big leagues. After being drafted by the Mets in the 12th round of the 2013 MLB Draft, the utility man battled through various injuries in the minors, playing just three total games in Double-A in 2016 and 48 games in 2017 between High-A and Triple-A.

“Getting called up at 26 and going to be a free agent at 33, you never know what’s going to happen,” McNeil said. “When I was going through the minor leagues dealing with those injuries, it was tough. It was tough to stay positive at times.”

Being 25-years-old and not playing more than 18 games at the Triple-A level is certain to leave some doubts. McNeil was no different as nothing was guaranteed with his future in the organization.

“Yea, I think everyone has those thoughts [of not making the majors] in the minor leagues,” said McNeil. “Especially I went a year and a half, almost two years of not being 100%.

You kind of think, am I ever going to make it? What’s going to happen? But was lucky enough in [2018] to be back to myself healthy and even a better player than I was before the injuries.”

Back to himself he was indeed. In 2018, McNeil slashed .342/.412/.627 in 88 games between Double-A and Triple-A earning himself a call up to the big leagues where he has since never looked back.

After his stellar rookie campaign, when he hit .329 with three homers and 19 RBI, the two-time All-Star cemented himself as a cornerstone piece of the Mets’ future and has rung true ever since as his contract extension serves as evidence.

McNeil — a career .307 hitter — is the second homegrown Met to receive a significant contract this offseason as Brandon Nimmo inked an eight-year, $160 million free agent deal. However, there is still one large elephant — or Polar Bear — in the room and that is the future of Pete Alonso.

Mets’ General Manager Billy Eppler refused to specifically address Alonso’s contract situation Tuesday afternoon, however, the Mets’ first basemen was one of the first people to receive a phone call from McNeil after he inked his extension.

“He [Alonso] was so happy,” said McNeil. “One of the first people I called. He didn’t know we were in extension talks. So I wanted to surprise him and that was a pretty cool phone call to make.”

Securing homegrown talent early is a theme seen across baseball, specifically within the NL East with the Atlanta Braves. Steve Cohen and Eppler have continuously talked about sustainability throughout their tenure trying to create “The East Coast Dodgers.”

Rewarding players such as McNeil who have worked throughout the system to make an impact at the major league level rings a positive message throughout the clubhouse about the commitment from ownership driving more willingness and desire to play for the Mets.

“I think it’s huge for taking care of us [homegrown players],” McNeil said. “We’ve been here a long time and it gives hope to the younger guys who are just coming up. If they go out there and play well they could be a player here for a long time and get that extension as well.

“It means a lot especially as a homegrown guy. It’s great to see a guy like Nimmo getting extended. It’s great for guys like him who have been here for so long to ultimately get that big deal and stay in New York.

It’s fantastic to have an ownership and a front office that is so committed to winning. I think that’s why we’re getting so many amazing players and guys who want to stay here. Guys want to stay here and guys want to play here.”

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