The Scottsdale Scorpions lost on Friday night, 6-1 despite strong starts from Jett Williams, Jacob Reimer and a 1-for-4 showing at the plate from Jeff McNeil, who made his first rehab appearance and is hoping to be added to the NLCS roster. Noah Hall and Jawilme Ramirez also played in this game representing five of the eight players the Mets currently have on the Scorpions roster.
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Despite the focus on this AZFL season being whether McNeil can get himself into condition to be on the Mets NLCS roster, Williams has done nothing but hit so far this season. Williams, who started in center field, went 2-for-2 at the plate with a run scored, two walks, and his second triple of the season. Williams has shown no signs that the wrist injury that cost him almost all of the 2024 season will be something to worry about in 2025. Reimer got the start in left field and after his injury-riddled campaign as well, went 0-for-1 with an RBI on a fielder’s choice and three walks.
Lastly, Jeff McNeil went 1-for-4 with a laser of a single and a walk on Friday while playing second base in his first baseball action since he suffered a fractured wrist when he was hit by a pitch on September 6th. In a piece by Jesse Borek and Anthony DiComo at MLB Pipeline after the game about how he felt.
“All good, no problems,” McNeil said of his wrist postgame. “I feel like I saw the ball really well tonight too. My first time seeing live pitching in I think five weeks. Swung at good pitches, saw the ball well, got the first single out of the way which is nice. I like how I felt tonight.”
Along with hitting, McNeil was in the field for the first time since injuring his wrist. Despite not playing, the nerves in the field have been nonexistent.
“I’m hoping the ball’s hit to me every single time,” McNeil said. “The speed of the game, it’s quicker than just taking ground balls during practice, so you want the ball to come to you.”
McNeil also had this to say about watching the Mets playoff run.
“It’s been fantastic,” McNeil said of watching from afar. “I got to see a lot of it on the TV, but it’s been a lot of fun; fans are into it, bringing energy and I’m just glad to be a part of it again.”
Drew Gilbert was out of the lineup on Friday.
On the pitching side of the ball, Noah Hall started the game and went 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs with one earned, allowing three hits while walking three and striking out one. Hall struggled with his location in this outing, but still managed to make it into the third inning. Jawilme Ramirez came out in the eighth inning and went 2/3 of an inning, allowing one earned run on two hits while striking out one.
The Scorpions will look to rebound from Friday’s loss in another game against the Glendale Desert Dogs on Saturday at 6:30 P.M.
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