McNeil came into Tuesday riding a 14-game hitting streak and has hits in all but one game since joining the 51s in mid-June. “He knows what he can do well and I think he’s going to be OK as long as he stays within his plan.” “I think just talking to him in the last few days, I think he has a pretty good idea of what he’s doing at the plate,” hitting coach Joel Chimelis said shortly after McNeil arrived. So far this season, it has been, and the second baseman has been turning heads. I’m feeling healthy and strong so hopefully it’s all behind me,” McNeil said. A second surgery ended his season.Īnd in 2017, he missed most of the early season with a torn quad suffered in part, he thinks, because he was weak from the surgeries.Īfter almost two lost seasons, McNeil is out to prove what kind of player he is. He took a swing six weeks into his rehab and felt a shooting pain down his leg. He was also diagnosed with a torn hip labrum but was planning on coming back from the first surgery and addressing that after the postseason. McNeil played in just three games in 2016 and 48 in 2017 - including 18 in Las Vegas - battling injury after injury.įirst there was a double sports hernia that required surgery in 2016.
“Those balls I’m hitting well are starting to go over rather than being caught,” McNeil said.īut most importantly, McNeil is finally healthy after missing much of the last two seasons. He also mentioned playing in a little bit more hitter-friendly ballparks as a reason for the jump in power. “I kind of got them away from my body and back to try to generate a little bit more bat speed which I’ve done, causing a little bit more power.” “My hands used to be a little bit closer to my body,” McNeil said.
McNeil came into this season with just nine home runs from 2013-17. He flashed an increase of power at Double-A, hitting 14 home runs in 57 games after never hitting more than four in a single season in the minors. He started the year in Double-A Binghamton and perched himself atop or very close to the top of many major offensive categories before earning a call up. 391/.444/.594 with a pair of home runs and 14 RBIs in 16 games, providing a spark in the 51s’ offense.
Heading into Tuesday’s game, the 26-year-old was hitting. McNeil was promoted to Triple-A on June 16. I’ve produced every single year, so it’s kind of cool to see fans and everything talk about it but at the end of the day, you’ve just got to keep playing baseball.” I know I haven’t really been a top prospect ever,” McNeil said. He knows he’s flown under the radar since being drafted in the 12th round in 2013.īut the second baseman has forced people to pay attention to him anyway. Benjamin Hager Las Vegas Review-Journal won’t find Jeff McNeil’s name near the top of the prospect lists. 51s second baseman Jeff McNeil (12) warms up in the on-deck circle during Las Vegas' home matchup with the Reno Aces on Sunday, June 24, 2018, at Cashman Field, in Las Vegas.
0 kommentar(er)
