By WFAN.com
Jeff McNeil has been the best pure hitter for the Mets so far in 2019...and it's not even close. McNeil is hitting .352 with a .440 OBP going into Thursday's game, which is the second-best batting average in all of baseball behind Cody Bellinger's absurd .401 start.
Is the sensational start surprising?
"I've always been a hitter that hits for high average. I put the ball in play a lot. When you do that, hits fall...not too surprised," McNeil said on WFAN's 'Joe & Evan' Thursday. "I expect myself to hit for a high average all the time."
McNeil has made the transition to left field pretty seamless so far after playing the infield in the final few months last season when he got called up.
"It's been good. I used to play it a lot in college so I had some experience out there. Just kind of getting used to seeing the ball off the bat again...just trying to basically get as many reps in batting practice as possible so I feel comfortable out there. I played almost every game out there this year so feeling really comfortable out there now."
What has been the most difficult part about playing in the outfield?
"The ball going straight over your head...as a left fielder that's the hardest ball," the utility man said. "As a center fielder...center field is one of the easier outfield positions to learn just because it's a little easier to see off the bat. Once that ball comes off the bat as a left fielder...that ball is directly over your head, it's curving and moving. It's a little difficult there, but once you get used to it, it's not too bad."
At 20-21, it's been an up and down season for the Mets. The bats have come alive a bit after struggling mightily for a few weeks. The pitching has got a bit better. There have been some positive signs, despite being a game under .500.
"I feel good about the team. We have had some ups and down with both the offense and the pitching. It's all starting to come together. We got a bunch of good guys in the locker room. I like where we are at. The pitching is there and the hitting is starting to come around. I like where we're at right now."
You can hear the entire interview with McNeil in the audio player above.
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