Sports

Mets cutting back on the Jeff McNeil left field experiment

PORT ST. LUCIE — The Jeff McNeil left field experiment isn’t over, but with Jed Lowrie and Todd Frazier still out with injuries, Mickey Callaway said Friday it was time to get McNeil more games at third base.

“We want to make sure we’re covered in all scenarios,’’ Callaway said after the Mets lost to Miami, 10-3, at First Data Field. “We feel like he needs to start playing third.”

That starts Sunday, when the Mets play host to the Cardinals.

Friday, though, still saw McNeil in left, where he had a somewhat adventurous day on a windy afternoon.

In the second inning, Noah Syndergaard allowed a deep fly ball to Isaac Galloway that McNeil got a glove on after spinning around. McNeil got to the ball quickly and thanks to a good relay with shortstop Andres Gimenez, they threw out Austin Dean at the plate as he tried to score from first on the double.





“I just got turned around a little bit because of the wind,’’ McNeil said. “I had a really good read on it. The wind just pushed it over my right shoulder and I did the most athletic thing I could. It hit the palm of my glove and kind of popped out. I make that catch almost every time.”

Callaway said that with more reps this spring, McNeil would be able to play left during the regular season. They intended to have McNeil spend about 80 percent of his playing time figuring out how to play left, with the other 20 percent at third.

At this point, that split figures to be 50-50 the rest of the spring because Frazier (oblique) and Lowrie (knee) are out.





Callaway wouldn’t rule out the possibility both veteran infielders miss the beginning of the season.

“I don’t think I can say that at this point, but we want to make sure we’re prepared if that happens,’’ the manager said. “That’s one of the reasons we’re getting him more reps at third.’’

McNeil also missed time earlier this spring with a scraped wrist, which slowed the learning process.

And despite his difficulty on the double on Friday, Callaway said he’s pleased with what McNeil has done in left.

“He’s looked really good,’’ Callaway said. “He’s been limited because he was out for a little while. … He gets the ball in quick. He still hasn’t played the outfield a ton. What we’ve seen to this point, we’ve been satisfied with. He’ll continue to get better the more reps and the more balls he sees live off the bat.’’





Dilson Herrera got the start at third on Friday and McNeil has been doing work at both positions throughout the spring. He started 52 games at second with the Mets last year and just one at third, although McNeil also has a smattering of experience at third in the minors.

“I’ll do my best to feel comfortable at both positions,’’ McNeil said of left field and third base.

He displayed why the Mets want him in the lineup with his leadoff homer in the bottom of the first off right-hander Dan Straily.

Callaway had three lefties in a row at the top of the order, with McNeil followed by Michael Conforto and Robinson Cano. It’s a strategy he could deploy during the season.

“Against righties, heck yeah,’’ Callaway said. “Absolutely.’’





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