How Mets are working Jeff McNeil back into the fold

When the Mets activated Jeff McNeil off the injured list Saturday, manager Mickey Callaway pondered what it would mean for his roster all day.

Callaway decided that for Saturday’s game against the Braves at Citi Field, McNeil only would pinch hit or be used as part of a double-switch — with his full return scheduled for Sunday, when he most likely will start at second base. Aaron Altherr, who was hitting .082, was designated for assignment to make room for McNeil on the active roster.

But McNeil’s return from his second stint on the IL, after a strained left hamstring, leaves Callaway with the problem of how to integrate him back into his lineup without disrupting the team’s current chemistry.

It’s not necessarily a bad problem, having one of your most consistent bats return after missing nine games and feeling conflicted about where to plug him back in, because the players who stepped up in his place proved their worth on both sides of the ball.

Luckily for Callaway, McNeil is a versatile player and already has spent time at various positions. McNeil, who has played the bulk of this season in the corner outfield spots, with substantial time at second base and some appearances at third, is sure to be comfortable wherever he ends up.

“There will be a lot of different places [he’ll play],” Callaway said. “I think that we have some guys performing, we have a second baseman performing, we have a center fielder performing, we have a left fielder performing, and we have a third baseman that’s been performing. So, I feel like McNeil can cover a lot of those spots.

“We can move [Michael] Conforto over to center every now and again, get McNeil in the outfield. He can spell at second, he can spell at third, and he can help J.D. Davis when he needs a day off.”

Callaway said he hopes to use McNeil to help keep the lineup fresh, while also allowing those who should keep playing to remain on the field. It’s difficult, however, to pinpoint where McNeil should step in.

The only thing Callaway can say for sure is that McNeil will resume his usual amount of playing time, as the 27-year-old continues to build off his tremendous second season with the Mets. Before this most recent IL stint, McNeil had collected 14 hits, four home runs and nine RBI’s in his first 12 games in August.

His .332 batting averages leads the NL and his 31 doubles round out the top-10 in the division as well. McNeil was the Mets’ go-to leadoff hitter for a majority of the season, but in his absence Amed Rosario has taken that spot and hit a hot streak with nine multi-hit outings this month — including a 5-for-6 performance against the Braves on Aug. 15.

McNeil said he feels back to normal after completing an abbreviated rehab assignment: He got hit by a pitch and stole second in one plate appearance with Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday before the game was suspended, then went 1-for-4 with the Brooklyn Cyclones on Friday.

“Throughout my career, I’m always playing a little banged up,” McNeil said. “A lot of people in this locker room are, it’s just 162-game season, and you’re going to play banged up. Just learning how to manage and just getting through.”

The Mets have continued to develop chemistry, and when McNeil was pulled from the lineup, there was concern that it could interfered with their race toward an NL wild-card spot. But a 6-3 record during his absence is a testament to how the Mets have adjusted, and McNeil has the ability to put their quest for the postseason into hyper-drive.

“Right now, I’m just glad to be back on the field,” McNeil said. “Hopefully keep swinging the bat well, hopefully we keep getting wins and the ultimate goal is to get into the playoffs.”