After finally getting the call to the majors, Jeff McNeil gets his first MLB hit

The stock of the Mets’ farm system may be draining, but there are still a few diamonds in the rough. Jeff McNeil is one of them. After consistently batting over .300 in the minors, many were wondering when the team would finally call up the prized prospect. With everything going wrong for them, the Mets finally bit the bullet. The timing could not have been better.

McNeil, wearing number 68, joined the team in their series against the Padres. He came in to pinch-hit for a returning Phillip Evans in the bottom of the eighth. In front of an excited home crowd at Citi Field, McNeil got his first hit in his first at-bat.

McNeil was picked by the Mets the 12th round in the 2013 First-Year MLB Draft. Coming into the season, the second baseman was dominating the minor leagues. Between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas, McNeil had an incredible slash line of .342/.411/.617 with 19 home runs, 71 RBIs and 36 walks. The 26-year old, who was unranked before this season, was 9-for-28 in Triple-A before the call. He picked up right where he left off.

Speaking to the media after the game, McNeil was ecstatic about his first game and a chance to produce for the team.

“It felt amazing. You always want to get your first hit out of the way. I’ll come back tomorrow and try to do the same thing.”

With questions surrounding Yoenis Cespedes‘ health (he went back on the 10-day DL) and Asdrubal Cabrera getting looked at by contending teams, the Jeff McNeil experiment is more than just a short-term plan. If done right, the Mets could see a lot from the kid. There may be a chance he will be playing third base, even if manager Mickey Callaway previously called him a strict second baseman. The Mets’ main priority should be using his abilities to the fullest.

With McNeil up, is Peter Alonso not far behind? The first base prospect is hitting the ball as well as McNeil. With Dominic Smith getting sent down and not many options to choose from, we could get another young buck making his debut for the Mets.

Unfortunate circumstances have brought McNeil onto the Mets’ doorstep, but he doesn’t mind. He will be looking to make the most out of his opportunity. Whatever role he is given, the new future face of the team will take it all with a smile on his face, knowing he made it to the big leagues.