WASHINGTON — Jeff McNeil knew his defensive metrics were favorable, but was somewhat surprised Tuesday to hear just how good they have been this season.
As measured by one popular statistic, outs above average, McNeil has been the Mets’ best defensive player.
“We have got some great defensive guys and I think we are playing well, team defense, but it’s a little bit surprising,” McNeil said before the Mets opened a three-game series against the Nationals.
McNeil was plus-three in outs above average as a second baseman, according to baseball savant and responsible for saving two runs. As a left fielder he’s been league average at zero.
Further analyzing the numbers, McNeil had 62 attempts as a second baseman, and his estimated success rate was 75 percent. His actual success rate was 79 percent. In left field, he had 23 attempts and his estimated success rate was 94 percent. His actual success rate was 96 percent. Overall, he ranked in MLB’s 93rd percentile for outs above average.
Such strong metrics might seem surprising for a player who has primarily been known for his bat throughout his career. But McNeil has brought a dependable glove to the field, particularly over the last two seasons. Last year he finished plus-five in outs above average, as a second baseman and left fielder.
McNeil’s versatility remains an important component of allowing manager Buck Showalter to shuffle his lineup, first with giving Robinson Cano opportunities — the veteran infielder was released Sunday after a DFA earlier in the week — and more recently with Luis Guillorme at second base.
“I think what impresses me is [McNeil] goes out to left field and he doesn’t miss a beat coming back in,” Showalter said. “I was told that coming in that he could go back and forth and it’s been an asset for us to give some guys some days.”
McNeil entered play with a .323/.387/.448 slash line, with a team-best batting average. He would like to think he’s compensated for any underwhelming days at the plate this season with his glove.
“There’s definitely days where you are not having a good day at the plate so you have got to help the team in some way and defensively you are making some good plays,” McNeil said. “I think I am the kind of guy if I’m not doing well at the plate, I don’t want anybody else to do well at the plate on the other team, so I try to make every play I can and I want it to hurt for them as well.”
McNeil was minus-two in outs above average as a third baseman in 2020 and has largely avoided the position the past two seasons.
“That third-base spot is my least comfortable position,” McNeil said. “Just knowing that it’s going to be second or left field, it makes it easier to just focus on those and get real good at those.”
Though McNeil barely played the outfield in the minor leagues, his college experience — he played left, center and right at Long Beach State — has served him well with the Mets.
“In the minor leagues I tried to play outfield as much as I could, they just saw me as an infielder only,” McNeil said. “Even in the minor leagues I took fly balls almost every day out there, trying to get out there because I knew that would probably be the best way to get to the big leagues.”