The 2025-2026 offseason was supposed to be the end of an era for Jeff McNeil in Queens. After a turbulent 2025 campaign that followed an inconsistent 2024, the former batting champion seemed destined for a trade. President of Baseball Operations David Stearns appeared set on clearing the infield logjam, utilizing McNeil’s remaining contract to acquire pitching depth and officially pass the torch to a younger generation of middle infielders.
However, a recent offseason bombshell has completely rewritten the script. The news that McNeil underwent successful thoracic outlet surgery in November provides a stunning and crucial new context for his struggles over the past two seasons.