There could potentially be a new threat to the home run derby this year, and his name is Jeff McNeil.
The 32-year-old has now gone deep in two straight games, launching his third of the season during the Mets 6-3 loss against the Guardians.
The Flying Squirrels’ third long ball came in the top of the second. The second basemen lined a 90 MPH 1-0 pitch just over the right field wall, slicing off the bat at 103.9 MPH before settling 377 feet away from home.
Jeff McNeil launches his second homer in as many days!
On the very next pitch, Triston McKenzie drilled Harrison Bader. It was McKenzie’s first hit batter of the year.
pic.twitter.com/BH6WMeqXQD— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) May 22, 2024
The line drive shot put the Mets up 2-0 early.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to avoid the sweep. Some late-inning heroics from the Guardians bats left the Mets buried, and the brooms were unfortunately brought out.
Still, McNeil’s power surge is a positive trend. While mostly a contact-focused base-hits type of player, he isn’t unfamiliar with power numbers. Mcneil’s 2019 campaign saw him slug 23 home runs and slug .531 en route to arguably the greatest season of his career.
Now, two home runs in two games isn’t necessarily something to write home about, especially given McNeil’s struggles at the plate have been sadly consistent this year. He ranks in the bottom 15 percent in multiple important batted ball and traditional hitting categories. For the season, McNeil is now hitting .240/.315/.345, with his OPS climbing from .610 to .657 over the last two days.
Perhaps a spark like this is needed for the 32-year-old, who the Mets would love to see get hot, as the team continues its below .500 skid.
Plus, it’s pretty cool that all three of his home runs this season have come in the state of Ohio. The last time McNeil homered outside of Ohio was September 18 of 2023 against the Marlins in Miami.
Shall we petition for the rest of the season’s games to be played in The Buckeye State? Perhaps Columbus? Anyone for Akron? What about Dayton?
I’ll hang up and listen.
The post Jeff McNeil Finds His Power in Ohio appeared first on Metsmerized Online.
