When the Mets faced the Nationals on Wednesday evening, there wasn’t much pressure for a win, as the team knew its fate following the Braves win over the Marlins on Tuesday. With the Wild Card spot secured and all eyes looking ahead to Friday’s game against the Padres, Buck Showalter unloaded the bench.
But there was still something unknown: Would Jeff McNeil secure the batting title, or would Freddie Freeman go 4-for-4 or better against the Rockies and surpass the second baseman?
McNeil went into Wednesday with a four-point lead over Freeman, and the Dodgers star needed to put on a clinic to obtain the title. But McNeil had to keep his composure, watching Freeman go 2-for-2 to start the game. Because the Mets game was delayed for rain, McNeil and his teammates watched with bated breath.
In his third at-bat, Freeman flied out to the warning track and McNeil could take a sigh of relief and crack a smile.
McNeil’s .326 average was good enough to claim the honor, and he was able to sit out the first seven innings of a meaningless 9-2 Mets win at Citi Field. When the Dodgers score went final, McNeil came out of the dugout and got a standing ovation from the Mets faithful.
“It’s definitely a dream come true,” McNeil said. “This is one of my goals in baseball is to win a batting title.”
Aside from being the first Mets players in franchise history to win the league batting title—Jose Reyes won the NL batting title in 2011 as a Met—McNeil will also be gifted a car from Francisco Lindor. The shortstop made a promise to McNeil earlier in the season if he accomplished the feat.
“I will get him a car,” Lindor said. “I didn’t specify what kind of car it was.”
For McNeil, this is a crowning achievement after being overlooked by many teams, injury setbacks, and coming off a rough 2021 which saw him hit a career-worst .251.
After being drafted in the 12th round, the now 30-year-old can add this honor to his resume that includes two All-Star selections.
The work has only just begun for McNeil and the Mets, though, who are slated to take on Yu Darvish and a Padres team that features Manny Machado and Juan Soto. Max Scherzer will take the bump for the Mets in a best-of-three series at Citi Field on Friday night. First pitch is set for 8:07 p.m. ET.
(Photo: @Mets Twitter)