Jeff McNeil’s bat speed - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6348899/2025/05/12/mets-jeff-mcneil-bat-speed-juan-soto-ground-ball-rate/
McNeil’s bat speed is up
Bat speed is one of the quickest stats to give us a read on swing changes: It can take as few as five swings to reveal useful data. Jeff McNeil went into spring training with an eye on improving his bat speed above the month-over-month improvement he showed in 2024 in the new metric. The early returns, even after a spring oblique injury, are promising.
McNeil averaged 68.8 mph on his competitive swings in 2024; so far this year, it’s 71.2 mph. That’s the gap between well below average and right near it across the sport. The main difference for McNeil has been eliminating many of his slowest swings and placing a larger chunk of his swings above league average (71.6 mph).
(Baseball Savant)
Though that added bat speed hasn’t translated into more consistent hard contact just yet, McNeil’s slugging and expected slugging numbers are up from last season.
Jack Wenninger - NYM
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Wenninger has the perfect frame for a starter, standing at 6'4" and 210 lbs. He has seen a substantial increase in his fastball velocity in 2025, with an additional +1.5 MPH compared to last season, which has it sitting 94-96 MPH. This increase, along with a lower arm slot and more ride on his fastball, has pushed it to average status while flashing above average traits. He doesn't have the greatest feel for the offering, but is able to battle back into counts thanks to its strong swing and miss numbers. He added a sinker this season, which sits in the same velocity band as his fastball and deviates slightly from his 3/4 slot. The prized pitch in Wenninger's arsenal is his changeup. It sits at 83-85 MPH and exhibits ~15" of vertical separation from his fastball. It's low spin nature leads to some wasted pitches, but he is mostly consistent in repeating its shape and locating it low in the zone and inside vs LHH. This pitch is so effective vs LHH, that Wenninger has exhibited reverse splits throughout his pro-career. He rounds out his arsenal with a slider with tight gyro movement and slight depth at 83-85 MPH. He is doing a better job at attacking the zone and getting ahead in counts, which is reflected in his improved walk rate.
Wenninger's deeper arsenal and refined command has his prospect stock rising rapidly as he looks like another win for the Mets renowned pitching lab
Mack - Nestico has written often about this guy and thinks he is a hidden gem.
I agree.
Notable Pitching Prospects missing the Top 100:
- Jonah Tong (NYM)
- Nolan McLean (NYM)
- Brandon Clarke (BOS)
- Payton Tolle (BOS)
- Gage Jump (ATH)
- Luis Morales (ATH)
- Carlos Lagrange (NYY)
- Grant Taylor (CHW)
- George Klassen (LAA)
- Jaden Hamm (DET)
- Khal Stephen (TOR)
7 comments:
Top10 in 2026
McNeil has actually looked pretty good at the plate thus far. If that bat speed is up, that makes sense. I think he’s going to be a major offensive contributor the rest of this season, which will be a big help to the bottom of this lineup. With Winker out, I’d imagine we’ll see a rotating LH DH with McNeil, Nimmo, Baty, and Soto all getting some games there, with Marte playing pretty much exclusively vs. LHP.
Skenes tonight.
Vito here. Four young starters maybe two become solid ML starters, that’s big. Several double A guys look good. Things looking up in the minor leagues.
Vito, I saw a clip of Tong’s Ks.from his perfect outing. He WILL be a star.
Check tonight's lineup
No holes
Baty? Acuna?
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