NEW YORK (AP) — These terrific at-bats by rookie Jeff McNeil, maybe it’s the bat.
A most unusual bat.
Swinging a strange-looking stick with no knob, McNeil homered in getting three more hits to lead the New York Mets over the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 Monday night in a matchup of struggling teams.
“Definitely getting a lot more confident up there,” McNeil said.
McNeil’s 34-inch, 31 1/2-inch Dove Tail bat features a style virtually unseen in the majors. His bat simply flares out at the end — he started using it a couple of years ago in the minors, saying he likes the way it feels so balanced.