Jeff McNEIL
Jeff McNeil, the second-year Mets infielder who is off to a blazing start this season, steps up to take a swing at some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby. Q: Are you exceeding your own expectations? A: No, I mean, I always hit for high average. I expect to hit for high average. Swinging at good pitches this year ... just continue to swing at good pitches and keep hitting the ball hard, and I expect to have a high average all year. Q: Have you fantasized about winning a batting title? A: Yeah, I mean, it obviously crossed my mind. I know I got close in like High-A. It’s a little different at the big league level, but I know at the top of my game, [I can] hit for high average, so I can definitely see that happening one day. Q: So that’s not an impossible dream for you? A: No, I think that’s very realistic. I just gotta continue putting together good at-bats and just keep hitting the ball hard. For how much I put the ball in play, hits fall. Q: Where does that confidence come from? Is that something you’ve always had? A: Yeah, I think that’s the best way to play the game: play the game confident. If you doubt yourself, then you just make the game even harder. Q: What drives you? A: I want to be the best. It’s been that way since I was really young, I always wanted to be the best. Wanted to prove people wrong at the same time. I was always the smallest kid on the field and always had to prove myself. Q: Who are some pitchers you haven’t faced that you’re looking forward to facing? A: Definitely Clayton Kershaw. Before I got drafted, I used to watch him all the time. [Aroldis] Chapman, I haven’t got to face him, throwing 100 miles an hour from the left side. Q : Did you play in the Subway Series last year? A: There was like a makeup game, one of ’em got rained out, I played in that, so I played one time against the Yankees [going 2-for-5 with an RBI in an 8-3 win Aug. 13]. Q: What did you learn about the Subway Series from that game at Yankee Stadium? A: Pretty crazy. It’s like a playoff atmosphere. Q: Who is one pitcher in MLB history you would have loved to face? A: Probably Randy Johnson, because I think that’s probably the toughest left-on-left at-bat there is. ... Back in his prime, I don’t see anyone being harder to hit than him. Q: Who is one MLB player in history whose brain you could have picked? A: Ted Williams. To know what kind of went through his mind when he’s hitting. He’s the best hitter out there. Q: Describe your on-field mentality. A: I’m a grinder. I just do everything I can to get the job done. It doesn’t always look pretty, but I’m gonna get the job done no matter what. Q: You don’t mind that it doesn’t look pretty, do you? A: Not at all. I just want to get the job done. Whatever it takes. Q: Describe playing on the New York stage. A: It’s awesome. When you win, it’s definitely the best place to play in all sports. The fans are incredible when they’re behind you. I love it so far. Q: What is your best baseball moment? A: I’d say probably the day I got called up. First at-bat I took, getting a hit on the first pitch [as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of a 6-3 win over the Padres on July 24]. ... I think that was a pretty special one, just be welcomed by Citi Field, it was pretty awesome. Q: What is your worst baseball moment? A: I’d probably say going through the two years of injuries that I had. A couple of hernia surgeries, a hip surgery, just having complications with those. That was real frustrating, and tough. Q: You came back healthy and then you injured your quad the next year. A: I was running from second, and just kind of felt a little snag. And then the next day, I hit a ball down the right field line that wasn’t sure if it was staying fair or not, so I kind of broke out of the box, and it ended up hitting the foul pole. As I was running to first base, it felt pretty good. Tore it on a home run ball, home run trot, as I was running to first base. Tore my quad and kind of jogged very slowly around the bases. Q: What is the worst minor league bus ride you’ve taken? A: It was from Lakewood, New Jersey, back down to Savannah, Georgia. And it was on an off day, too. We ended up we were stuck in a Lakewood hospital for two hours waiting for one of our players to be released. Q: How long did the trip take? A: It took about 16 hours. Q: Boyhood idol? A: Tiger Woods. I’ve played golf ever since I was 3, 4 years old. I just remember basically every Sunday, I’d sit in front of the TV and watch him play and basically dominate every tournament he was in. Q: Did you ever in your wildest imagination think he would win another major? A: I thought he would. As long as he got back to healthy, I thought for sure he’d have a chance. Q: Three dinner guests? A: Tiger Woods, Babe Ruth, Kobe Bryant. Q: What would you ask Tiger Woods? A: Probably what makes him so great? I kind of know ... kind of the way he was brought up, and he was just beating everyone and expecting to win every single tournament he was in, and that competitive drive that he has. Q: What’s your handicap? A: It’s a zero right now. Q: Any thoughts maybe down the road pursuing a golf career? A: Yeah, it’s kind of my stress reliever, but once baseball’s done, I might try to do a little bit more competitively. Q: What’s the strength of your golf game? A: Definitely my irons. I drive the ball well, I hit irons well. The one part of my game that needs work is short game, but that’s tough
when you don’t play a lot. Q: What is it like playing behind Jacob deGrom? A: Boring. I’ll get no action. He doesn’t need many people behind him. He’s so good, he strikes everyone out. Q: Are you proud of your versatility? A: Yeah, I take a lot of pride in that. That’s what I did in college. I did it a little bit throughout the minor leagues, but I love being able to help the team in many ways — whether I play second base, third base, left field, wherever they need me. Q: When was the last time you hit with a bat that had a knob? A: I think 2015, in spring training. Q: Why did minor league hitting coordinator Lamar Johnson give you a bat with no knob? A: I don’t know. I guess he ordered a bunch of ’em. He had I think about 12 of ’em that he was kind of handing out to some guys, and I ended up getting my hands on one of ’em and loved it. Q: Why is it so good for you? A: It’s just so balanced. It’s not very top-heavy. A lot of bats nowadays, they have that big old barrel, small handle. Mine’s got like a real thick handle and kind of a medium-size barrel, so it makes it feel pretty light, and balanced. Q: Favorite movie? A: “Remember the Titans.” Q: Favorite actor? A: Adam Sandler. Q: Favorite actress? A: Mila Kunis. Q: Favorite singer/entertainer? A: Cole Swindell. Q: Favorite meal? A: My wife makes chicken parmigiana with pasta. Q: You have a cat. A: [He is] 21 years old. His name is Jiggy. I’ve had him since I was like six. Q: Who gave you the nickname “Squirrel”? A: I think that was from way back in college, they called me “The Blind Squirrel” when I was in the outfield diving for balls. My old roommate in the minor leagues found out about it, and then it just kind of got bigger and bigger each year. Q: What do you hope Mets fans say about you? A: I hope they say I play the game the right way, play the game hard and give everything I have every day. Q: A message about the 2019 Mets. A: Our hitting’s there, we got the pitching to get it done. If everyone stays healthy, and we play the way we’re supposed to, we can bring a World Series back to Queens.