The New York Mets are closely monitoring an injury concern with All-Star second baseman/outfielder Jeff McNeil, who is currently experiencing left biceps soreness. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has confirmed that McNeil will refrain from hitting for a few days to address this issue. Despite the discomfort, an MRI hasn’t been conducted yet as the Mets don’t view it as alarming enough to warrant immediate testing. McNeil will focus on defensive work during this downtime and will be reevaluated on Tuesday. However, if his condition worsens or persists, the Mets may opt for imaging as a precautionary measure. This setback comes as the Mets aim to rejuvenate McNeil following a challenging 2023 season, during which he secured a lucrative contract extension after winning the batting title in the previous year. The team is banking on McNeil and outfielder Starling Marte’s health to bolster their lineup, which faces uncertainties. Meanwhile, infielder Joey Wendle is also nursing a right shoulder issue but is anticipated to make his spring league debut by week’s end.
Despite the early stage of spring training and Grapefruit League play, the Mets are grappling with injuries, a common occurrence in the sport. Apart from McNeil and Wendle, the team will be without ace pitcher Kodai Senga for an extended period due to a posterior capsule strain in his right shoulder, while Max Kranick is set to miss considerable time with a hamstring injury.