Jeff McNeil to Potentially Rejoin Mets for NLCS After Arizona Fall League Stint

New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil, who suffered a fractured right wrist in early September, is making a quicker than anticipated return as he is scheduled to play in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) this weekend. This development opens the possibility for McNeil to rejoin the Mets if they advance to the National League Championship Series (NLCS).

McNeil, aged 32, last participated in a game on September 6 but remained an active part of the team as they managed a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five National League Division Series against an unnamed visiting team. The Mets made a special request to Major League Baseball (MLB) to allow McNeil to play in the AFL owing to the damage caused by Hurricane Milton to the team’s spring training facilities in Port St. Lucie, Florida. MLB approved the request, and McNeil is expected to take to the field on Friday and Saturday.

During the regular season, McNeil played in 129 games, achieving a batting average of .238, with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs. His career record with the Mets, who selected him in the 12th round of the 2013 MLB draft, includes a batting average of .289, 68 home runs, and 313 RBIs over 801 games. In the wake of McNeil’s injury, fellow player Iglesias filled the gap admirably, hitting .395 with one home run, 14 runs, and four RBIs across 22 regular-season games. However, Iglesias’ postseason performance has been more restrained, with an average of .231 in six games.

The potential for players like McNeil to return through the AFL is not unprecedented. In 2016, former Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber, who missed nearly the entire season due to an ACL injury, played in the AFL before joining the Cubs’ World Series roster, thus highlighting the AFL’s role in rehabilitation and preparation for players returning from serious injuries.