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Jeff McNeil 2023 Player Outlook: Poised For Another Strong Season
2 years agoNew York Mets second baseman and outfielder Jeff McNeil looks poised for yet another strong season at the plate for both the National League East club and fantasy managers. The veteran is coming off one of his most productive seasons in the Majors, hitting .326 with a .382 on-base percentage, nine home runs, and four stolen bases in a career-high 589 plate appearances. McNeil didn't register much in the way of barrels or hard-hit balls, but he was elite at putting the ball in play, finishing in the 91st percentile or better league-wide in whiff rate (15.9%, 91st), xBA (.280, 94th) and strikeout rate (10.4%, 99th). It marked the fourth time in the last five years that McNeil has finished with an xBA over the .273 mark, giving him a quality fantasy floor where batting average is concerned. He'll once again play a key role in a strong lineup that will also feature the likes of Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Eduardo Escobar, Starling Marte, Brandon Nimmo, and Mark Canha, as well as promising prospects Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez. McNeil saw most of his plate appearances hitting third, fifth, and sixth last year. If that trend continues, he'll also have quality RBI and run-scoring upside as well.
