Mets' Jeff McNeil plays six innings in center field for Single-A St. Lucie

Jeff McNeil continued his rehab with the Mets’ Single-A affiliate down in Port St. Lucie, but Thursday saw him start in center field.

With Jose Siri down for weeks due to a leg injury, the Mets are trying to figure out who can play center field alongside Tyrone Taylor, and they are trying to give McNeil a look at the position.

In his first crack at center field on Thursday, McNeil was good, making all his plays and even making a running grab. The only ding on McNeil’s start was that he went 0-for-3 at the plate, and is not 3-for-11 in four games, but he completed six innings in center field, which should be encouraging for the Mets.

Manager Carlos Mendoza has given a few names as center field options moving forward. In addition to Taylor, Brandon Nimmo was named and the veteran outfielder is open to making the change from left field to help the team out.

“I’ll play wherever they want me to. If that requires center field, then that’s where I’ll be,” Nimmo said Wednesday. “We’ll see how they want to write things up as we move forward.”

Luisangel Acuña is also a candidate, but while the young infielder has some experience in center down in the minors — 31 games in 2024 — it’s not his natural position and he’ll need reps in the majors. But the Mets are prepping Acuña for the task.

“We are preparing Acuña for a potential start if we need him to,” Mendoza said. “He’s playing well. He’s earning opportunities here.”

The team also brought in Jose Azocar on Thursday, so they’ll have another outfield option if they choose to go that way, but when McNeil returns from his injury is when Mendoza and the rest of the organization will have decisions to make.

McNeil has made three appearances (two starts) in center field in his big league career. All those times in center came in 2023 when he had six chances and made six putouts.

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