Nobody expected this NY Mets player to be as good as he's been

This wasn't supposed to be the year of Jeff McNeil. 2022 was the last time New York Mets fans had seen one of those; since that remarkable season just three years ago, in which McNeil started the All-Star game at second base as well as won MLB's batting title and a Silver Slugger award, he had slashed just .257/.323/.381 over the next two seasons -- a statline more fit for a league-average journeyman than a batting champion.

The 2025 season began with McNeil essentially being written off; his hot second half of 2024 was cut short due to a broken wrist, and after suffering a right oblique strain in March, an opportunity presented itself for younger players such as Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuña to get their reps in at second base. There was still room for McNeil in the outfield upon return, but it appeared as if his days as an everyday starter for the Mets were behind him.

Nobody could have prepared themselves for the strong start McNeil would have with the Mets in 2025 -- unless you watched him play after last year's All-Star break.

In 37 games since his return from the IL on April 25, McNeil has slashed .265/.356/.522. His batting average might not be as high as it was in his best years, but his .522 slugging percentage is among the highest it's ever been. Of course, 37 games is a small sample size, but his six home runs thus far are just four short of his total from last season.

McNeil has never been much of a power hitter, but this new approach is how he's managed to make an impact so far, and it's what propelled his strong second half in 2024 before a hit-by-pitch effectively ended his season in September. In 41 games after the All-Star break, McNeil slashed .289/.376/.547, hitting seven home runs in the process. Just like he's been doing this year, he's been using unprecedented power to carry him to success at the plate.

As McNeil has struggled to find the same success in contact hitting he formerly achieved, his turn to a newfound path in power hitting has greatly benefited both him and the Mets. Due to his success and versatility, the team has been able to utilize him in various roles and has found opportunities for other players.

For example, Luisangel Acuña has struggled to break out at the plate so far this season, slashing a measly .243/.293/.287. Due to McNeil's productivity at the plate, however, they can afford to keep Acuña away from the plate, but still involve the 23-year-old in the game off the bench, utilizing his speed as a pinch-runner in late-game scenarios. McNeil's versatility allows Carlos Mendoza to apply the best qualities of each of his players while mitigating their weaknesses.

The latest of McNeil's heroics came Tuesday night, when he hit a walkoff double in the tenth inning of a 5-4 comeback win against the Nationals: