3 Mets who stepped up big in April

Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil has continued his excellence at the plate

Last years National League batting champion, Jeff McNeil also earned a contract extension from the New York Mets last offseason. He did a little bit of everything for this team, and has continued that same mentality through the start of the 2023 season.

McNeil hit .302 in April, not too far removed from his award-winning .326 average from last season. Despite a bit of a slow start to the season, he's managed to turn it around and become his old self again.

Part of what made McNeil so successful in 2022 was how difficult he was to strike out, and this season has been no different. Through his first 86 at bats, McNeil has only struck out eight times. He is one of the best two strike hitters in baseball and always manages to put the ball in play, always providing a positive impact for the Mets.

Defensively, McNeil has also been more than willing to shift to left field some games, which has really opened up the infield. This allows the Mets to make lineup changes for certain matchups and ulilize their depth more effectively. He has also been reliable with the glove in left as well, despite that not being his normal position.

Having a consistent .300 hitter is a luxury the Mets are glad they have with Jeff McNeil. Despite all of the madness going on with the rest of the team McNeil has been a reliable source of offense, and the Mets will rely on his going forward for a what they hope to be a deep playoff run.