3 Mets who stepped up big in April

To call the month of April eventful for the New York Mets would be an understatement. The team has undergone a surplus of injuries and poor starts, with some star players yet to make an appearance at all. Despite this, the Mets are still towards the top of the National League and appear to be treading water until they can get back to full health. To do this, they have needed some big contributions, and they have gotten exactly that from these three players.

Brandon Nimmo has been playing at a MVP level for the Mets

It is hard to imagine where this Mets team would be without Brandon Nimmo.

After signing a seven year contract with the Mets this offseason, Nimmo has more than delivered on that deal. As the everyday leadoff man, he hit a staggering .341 in April with a .909 OPS. He has set the tone for an offense that desperately needs it, and his ability to consistently get on base has been crucial for this team.

With the new rule changes, Nimmo has also been able to tack in some stolen bases as well. After never being a threat on the base paths in previous years, he has taken three bases so far this season. That matches his total from the entire 2022 season, and gives the Mets some serious speed at the top of the order with Nimmo and Starling Marte.

Most importantly, Nimmo has gone from being a defensive liability to a potential Gold Glove candidate. He has made significant strides in this department, which have already paid early dividends for the Mets. Several of these plays have been at crucial points of games, including his diving catch to save a game winning run a game where the Mets eventually came back to win.

Nimmo is doing it all for the Mets, and they will need him to continue these contributions across the board to keep up with the rest of the division. He is well on his way to earning his first All Star appearance, and may even earn some Gold Glove or MVP votes by seasons end.

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.