Rising stars are often the reason why new fans get attached to this beautiful game. Yes, we don’t know when baseball games will be played again, as the coronavirus crisis is nearing its peak, at least in the United States, but we do know that, eventually, it will return, and we will get to watch some of MLB’s better performers. The league’s official page listed nine rising stars that should stick around for the next decade or so, in most cases. One current member of the New York Mets made the list, and you are quite familiar with him.
Jeff McNeil is, according to MLB.com, one of the league’s most exciting young players. Yes, he may not have broken in the bigs at 20 or 21, but at 27 years old, he already has 815 plate appearances of elite offensive play.
McNeil was kind of like a defensive nomad in his first two seasons with the New York Mets. However, he will be the third baseman in the 2020 season, whenever it starts.
Here is MLB.com’s writeup on McNeil: “He’s penciled in to be the Mets’ regular third baseman after making 123 starts at five positions in his first full season. He exceeded every expectation with an All-Star season that included 38 doubles, 23 homers and a .916 OPS.”
McNeil’s sweet-swinging ways and aggressiveness at the plate are good for a high average: he has a .321 career mark and competed for the batting title last season. He has said that one of his goals is to be the batting champion, and 2020 may very well be his year.
The Mets’ offensive machine
And, with 23 home runs, 83 RBI and an ISO of .214, he added a power element to his game, as well. He is now a threat to do something exciting every time he steps into the batter’s box. He is one of the Mets’ most complete players.
Despite his negative baserunning (-2.9 base running runs, per Fangraphs) and defensive (-0.8 fielding runs) ratings, he managed to pile up 4.6 fWAR and is considered an adequate defensive player at third base.
With five seasons of team control remaining, the New York Mets will enjoy McNeil’s all-around prowess for at least the next half-decade, barring an unexpected trade.
The other eight players listed by MLB as being the most “exciting young stars” are Oakland A’s infielders Matt Chapman and Marcus Semien, D-Backs’ offensive machine Ketel Marte, Tampa’s reliever Nick Anderson, Dodgers’ slugger Max Muncy, Padres’ hurler Emilio Pagan, Indians’ starter Mike Clevinger and Rockies’ shortstop Trevor Story.