A fractured right wrist ends an Amazin’ season for Jeff McNeil

Not only did the Mets lose out on a chance at making the playoffs last night (September 25), they also lost a key player to end the season. Jeff McNeil, one of the teams hottest hitters this year, was hit by a pitch, fracturing a bone in his right wrist.

The Mets announced that McNeil will not be playing the last four games for the team.

According to MLB.com, McNeil suffered a right distal ulna fracture. This is after Marlins reliever Josh Smith struck him with an 88.8 mph fastball.

And so ends one of the best statistical seasons in Mets history. McNeil ends his 2019 campaign with a .318 batting average, 23 home runs and 75 RBIs. He is tied for fourth in the majors with 21 hit-by-pitches, the last one being the biggest blow. Before the All-Star break and a hamstring injury slowed him down, McNeil was hitting .379/.409/.509. You could have argued he deserved some votes in the MVP race.

Prior to this season, it was unknown if McNeil would start the season in the majors or even getting any playing time. The acquisition of Robinson Cano in the Edwin Diaz trade made things complicated. However, McNeil has proven to be a true versatile ballplayer, moving around from the infield to the outfield.

During the 63 games he played in 2018, McNeil hit .329/.381/.471. This season, he matched those numbers and then some. If everything works out well in the offseason, a healthy McNeil will be a valuable one for this young and hungry Mets team.