For Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez — it feels like Opening Day.
Technically it is — they were sidelined for the Mets’ first 25 games of the regular season due to injuries suffered during spring training, but after working their way back over the past couple of weeks they are finally ready to roll.
Both were officially activated from the IL on Friday and slide right into the starting lineup.
“It’s feels good,” Carlos Mendoza said. “Getting Jeff and Alvy back helps. Coming into the year they were going to be a big part of this team and this lineup — they went down and they went through the rehab process and now here they are. They are healthy and ready to go, I’m looking forward to watching them play.”
McNeil is slotted in at second for the series opener against the Nationals, and that’s where he’s expected to see the bulk of his playing time — though the skipper said he “wouldn’t hesitate” to use him in center.
The 33-year-old is open to the idea after spending time there during his rehab.
“I played a lot of center in college,” McNeil said. “I enjoy being out there, it’s a lot of fun — I take pride in playing lot of different positions and being really versatile, so wherever the team needs me I’m going play and I’m going to be happy to do it.”
With his new power-hitting approach and a torpedo bat, McNeil was able to find a ton of success during his handful of at-bats in the minors — launching a pair of homers and a double while posting stellar 1.112 OPS.
He’s hoping to be able to carry that production over to the big-league level.
“I feel really good at the plate,” McNeil said. “Through the rehab assignments I felt like I was hitting the ball harder than I ever have in my career — so I feel really good with that and hopefully I can keep it going here.”
Alvarez, on the other hand, was struggling to get back into a groove at the plate.
The 23-year-old put together just seven hits and one homer while striking out 11 times across 44 minor-league at-bats — but he still feels confident as he continues working with his revamped swing.
“I’m really excited to be here,” he said through a translator. “During my rehab I was working a lot on my swing to try to feel right, and when I wasn’t swinging I was working a lot on my mentality on what it is that I wanted to do — so right now I feel really good.”
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