The red-hot New York Mets have lost one of their hottest hitters for the rest of the season. Second baseman Jeff McNeil will likely miss the remainder of the year with a broken wrist, as announced by manager Carlos Mendoza on Saturday. McNeil sustained the injury when he was hit by a pitch in Friday’s walk-off victory against the Cincinnati Reds (NYM 6, CIN 4 in 10 innings). He was officially placed on the IL Sunday, and outfielder D.J. Stewart was called up from Triple-A to fill his roster spot.
“Not good. MRI this morning showed a wrist fracture, so he is likely done for the year,” Mendoza said Saturday when asked for an update on McNeil. McNeil informed reporters, including the New York Post, that he has a “really small fracture” and could potentially return if the Mets advance deep into the postseason.
McNeil was hit by the pitch, a 74 mph breaking ball, while attempting to bunt in the fourth inning on Friday. He remained in the game to run the bases and play defense but was substituted when his spot in the batting order came up again in the seventh inning. Here’s a look at the injury:
Despite his season batting line of .238/.307/.384 being underwhelming, McNeil has been one of New York’s top hitters in the second half, hitting .289/.376/.547 with seven of his 12 home runs since the All-Star break. A few weeks ago, he mentioned that he stopped trying to guide the ball for base hits and is now solely focusing on making hard contact, which has contributed to his impressive performance.
McNeil primarily plays second base, although he has also seen some action in left and right field this season, so the Mets will miss his versatility. Jose Iglesias, who has been a pleasant surprise throughout the year, is expected to take over as the full-time second baseman.
Saturday’s victory marked the Mets’ ninth consecutive win, propelling them to sole possession of the third and final National League wild-card spot, with the Atlanta Braves trailing by a game. The season series between the two teams is tied at 5-5, and they are scheduled to face off in a three-game series at Truist Park from Sept. 24-26, which serves as one of the penultimate series of the regular season.
following sentence using different words:
Original: The cat jumped over the fence.
Rewritten: The feline leaped across the barrier.