FSL notes: McNeil reveals many talents

Like most everyone else, Matt Duffy's college double-play partner can only marvel at the season the rookie is having with the San Francisco Giants.

"It gives you hope. We all have a chance," St. Lucie Mets infielder Jeff McNeil said.

"I'm not surprised at all he's in the big leagues, because you're taught how to play baseball the right way at Long Beach State. But he's really having a great year. It shows what hard work can do."

McNeil, a year behind Duffy, had the better college career and was drafted higher, going in the 12th round to the New York Mets in 2013 after Duffy lasted until the 18th in 2012.

Duffy was projected to be a utility player at best, not the regular third baseman he has become. McNeil will be more than happy with a utility role in Flushing some day.

The left-handed hitter has already shown he's comfortable in a lot of places other than just the batter's box. McNeil has ranked among the Florida State League batting leaders all season while playing second, third and shortstop almost equally and also seeing some duty in the outfield and at first.

"The more positions I can handle, the better off I am," he said.

There may not be much consistency in where the 23-year-old plays, but he's been ultra-consistent at the plate. 

McNeil, who hit .348 his final season in college, came into this year with a .302 career average -- and it's only gone up during the season. Through 101 games, McNeil was hitting .313 with a .376 on-base percentage while his 70 runs scored led the league. He also had 15 stolen bases, 22 extra-base hits and 33 RBIs.

Not bad for someone who considered his future to be in golf until he was nearly out of high school. McNeil was good, too, playing the U.S. Junior Amateur.

The baseball player in the family was younger brother Ryan, who would become a third-round choice of the Chicago Cubs in the 2012 Draft out of high school. But McNeil decided to join his brother's summer league team before his senior season and showed he had a future in baseball as well as golf.

Baseball won out, and the native of Santa Barbara, California, landed at Long Beach State. Like Duffy, he didn't hit a homer out of cavernous Blair Field in his three seasons, but he impressed otherwise.

Golf, though, is still very much part of his life. On a recent off-day, McNeil shot a five-under-par 67 at Martin Downs Golf Club in Palm City, Florida.

"I still have it occasionally," he said. "Not a single bogey."

McNeil went back and got his degree from Long Beach State in recreation and leisure and interned at Virginia Country Club in Long Beach.

"I can see myself in the business side of golf someday," he said. "Maybe even try to play a little bit on the mini-tour."

Baseball is his focus now, though. He made that choice a few years ago, and it looks like the correct one.

In brief

On the go: New York Yankees No. 3 prospect Jorge Mateo quickly showed off his speed after being promoted to Tampa from Class A Charleston on Aug. 5. Not only did the 20-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic have three stolen bases in his first two games, but his first two extra-base hits were triples. Mateo, who debuted with a four-hit game, had a .435 average through his first six games with Tampa and had an overall mark of .278. He had 74 stolen bases in 101 games with Charleston and is on pace to challenge the top figure in the Minors from a year ago when Mallex Smith swiped 88.

Taking the lead: Clearwater's Willians Astudillo has taken over the lead in the Florida State League batting race, after stringing together five multi-hit games. The catcher/first baseman was 11-for-17 during the stretch and was hitting .322 through Aug. 10. Astudillo, 23, had struck out just 10 times in 91 games but also drawn only seven walks, one intentional. The right-handed hitting native of Venezuela had 19 extra-base hits and 47 RBIs. Astudillo is a .319 career hitter and batted .333 last season for Class A Lakewood.

Switching teams: Chih-Wei Hu didn't have to switch leagues after he was sent to Tampa Bay by Minnesota as part of the trade package for veteran reliever Kevin Jepsen. In fact, the right-hander from Taiwan had to travel barely 50 miles down the western coast of Florida. Hu is now pitching for Charlotte instead of Fort Myers but was still among the FSL leaders with a 2.41 ERA. Hu, 21, allowed three hits and a run over five innings in his first start for Charlotte on Aug. 5 at Palm Beach, although he did take the loss.