Congratulations to Savannah Sand Gnats third baseman Jeff McNeil for being named the MMN Player of the Week for his performance from May 12 – May 18.
McNeil was signed by the Mets in the 12th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Long Beach State University. That summer he was sent to play with the Kingsport Mets and in 47 games, he batted .329/.413/.409. In 2014, he was promoted to the Sand Gnats and for the month of April he batted .308/.390/.516 with two home runs, 15 RBI’s, and 10 walks in 91 at bats.
Since the calendar changed to May, the Sand Gnats lefty hitting third baseman has been on a tear, batting .431, with an 11-game hit streak and six multi-hit games in that span. He is a key component in the Sand Gnats 28-14 record, which has them in first place in the South Atlantic League Southern Division by 4.5 games. He is currently batting .341/.421/.500, with 12 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 21 RBI’s, 13 walks, and 10 stolen bases.
May 12 – May 18: .500 (14 for 28), 5 R, 2 Doubles, 2 RBI, 1 BB
Honorable Mentions:
Cesar Puello, OF – Las Vegas 51s
Puello ended the Month of April batting .244/.271/.293, with no home runs and five RBI’s, then in May he started out slow, and after serving a few days on the Temporarily Inactive List to deal with a Biogensis related matter, he returned and has started to pick it up again. In the last week, he is looking like the player that tore up the Eastern League in 2013. Hopefully this is a sign of more to come.
May 12 – May 18: .444 (8 for 18), 6 R, 2 Doubles, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB
Kevin Plawecki, C – Binghmaton Mets
Plawecki hasn’t stopped hitting since the calandar changed to May and he earns another mention with another week batting over .400. He has currently hit safely in nine of his last ten games, and twelve of his last thirteen with eight-multi hit games in that span. He hasn’t shown that much power yet, but he has shown a knack for putting the ball in play and getting on base. If not for a hitless game on May 14th, Plawecki would be perfect for May.
May 12 – May 18: .429, (9 for 21), 1 R, 1 Double, 8 RBI
Cam Maron, C – St. Lucie Mets
Maron makes our list for the first time this season. The catching prospect, returned back to St. Lucie, but with the promotion of Kevin Plawecki to the B-Mets, Maron has become the number one catcher in St. Lucie’s potent lineup. He is currently enjoying an eight game hitting streak, with four-multi hit games in that span. With his leadership behind the plate and his hot bat, he has been a key component in St. Lucie’s surge to the top of the Florida State League North Division.
May 12 – May 18: .421 (8 for 19), 3 R, 1 Double, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Dilson Herrera, INF – St. Lucie Mets
Herrera, who slipped off our radar with a mini four game slump during the first week in May, where he batted just .117 (2 for 17), finds himself back after tearing through the last few weeks. Since May 9th, Herrera has hit safely in eight out of nine games with all eight games being of the multi-hit variety. The Colombian native is currently batting .317/.358/.403 and continues to be a key bat on top of the potent St. Lucie line-up.
May 12 – May 18: .419 (13 for 31), 6 R, 3 Doubles, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 SB
(Photo Credit: MiLB.com)