'Mets suffer major setback as 2B Jeff McNeil fractures wrist'

The New York Mets' second baseman, Jeff McNeil, has suffered a fracture in his right wrist and is likely to be absent for the remainder of the regular season, according to manager Carlos Mendoza on Saturday.

The injury occurred during the fifth inning of Friday's 6-4 extra-inning victory against the Cincinnati Reds. McNeil was attempting to bunt when he was struck by a curveball thrown by Brandon Williamson.

Despite being examined by a trainer, McNeil continued to play and even completed a double play in the sixth inning. However, he was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the bottom half of the inning due to swelling in his wrist.

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An MRI on Saturday morning confirmed the fracture.

"This is not how I wanted to end the season," McNeil stated. "I want to be out there with my teammates. They have accomplished so much and I just want to contribute."

McNeil, who won the National League batting title in 2022 with a .326 average, had a rough start to this season, hitting only .217 through June while the Mets had a record of 40-41.

However, he turned things around in July with a .260 batting average, which coincided with the Mets' rise in the standings.

Since the beginning of July, the Mets have a record of 77-64 and are currently tied for the third wild-card spot in the National League. Mendoza credited McNeil as a key contributor to the team's success.

"It's a huge loss," Mendoza said of McNeil's injury. "He was playing exceptionally well, especially in the past two months. He's a major reason why we have reached this point. But injuries are a part of the game and other players will need to step up."

Mendoza commended McNeil for bouncing back from his slow start to the season.

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"I am proud of him for his determination and perseverance. He never let his struggles get him down and he played a major role in our turnaround," the manager stated.

This season, McNeil has a batting average of .238 with 57 runs, 12 home runs, and 44 RBIs in 129 games.

Since July 1, he has played in 55 games and has a batting average of .271 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs.

It is expected that Jose Iglesias will fill in for McNeil at second base.