By Joiner Martinez
07 Sep 2024, 19:34 PM EDT
The New York Mets received some bad news after second baseman Jeff McNeil fractured his right wrist.
McNeil was hit despite his wrist guard by a 74.3 mph curveball from Cincinnati’s Brandon Williamson in the fifth inning of the Mets’ win Friday.
McNeil played second base in the sixth, but his wrist began to swell and he had trouble hitting in the box. Harrison Bader came in as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the inning.
“Frustrated is not how I wanted the season to end,” McNeil said. “I want to be out there with the guys.”
McNeil said he was surprised by the injury. “It barely hit me. It didn’t hurt,” he added. “Definitely surprised.”
#Mets Jeff McNeil was hit by a pitch last night. He was wearing a pad and hit by a 74 mph of speed pitch. I even laughed it off at the end.
Ends up with a fractured wrist. Terrible luck. pic.twitter.com/EH4rHlgCau
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) September 7, 2024
McNeil and manager Carlos Mendoza have indicated he may need four to six weeks to recover and would be given a chance to return if the Mets advance in the postseason.
“I would say if you see me on the field again it would be a very good thing,” McNeil said.
McNeil led the majors in 2022 with a .326 average but hit just .238 in 129 games this year. He was benched for several days in June and was hitting .216 before the All-Star break. He has raised his average to .289 with seven homers and 20 RBIs over his final 41 games.
“I am proud of him because he never stopped fighting and always kept his head up,” said Mendoza. “A tough blow for us, a difficult year for him.”
Cuban Jose Iglesias, who has a .312 batting average in 186 at-bats, is expected to start at second base. The Mets will replace McNeil on the disabled list, and Mendoza said Venezuelan Luisangel Acuña, brother of the Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr., is among the players he might consider to replace McNeil.
The undersized Acuña, who arrived in a trade with Texas for Max Scherzer in July 2023, is batting .263 with 38 stolen bases and splitting time at second base, shortstop and center field for Triple-A Syracuse.
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