Nipomo's Jeff McNeil pitches against Righetti during a game on March 24, 2010. McNeil had a stellar senior season at Nipomo, went on to play at Long Beach State and is now starts for the New York Mets.
Nipomo's Jeff McNeil heads to the dugout during a game against Righetti on March 24, 2010. McNeil had a stellar senior season at Nipomo, went on to play at Long Beach State and is now starts for the New York Mets.
Nipomo's Jeff McNeil pitches against Righetti during a game on March 24, 2010. McNeil had a stellar senior season at Nipomo, went on to play at Long Beach State and is now starts for the New York Mets.
Nipomo High's Jeff McNeil qualified for the USJGA Championship held at the Trump National Golf Course in New Jersey in 2009.
Arroyo Grande's Jacob Cano and Jeff McNeil congratulate each other after McNeil scored a run on Cano's sacrifice during a Babe Ruth tournament game in July of 2007.
Pictured, from left to right, are Nipomo High student-athletes Kevin Britt (Cal Poly), Duane Hanna (Sac State), Akeem King (San Jose State), Kaitlynn Penner (South Carolina State ) and Jeff McNeil (Cal St. Northridge) in February of 2010. McNeil went on to play baseball at Long Beach State and now plays for the New York Mets.
There's no questioning Jeff McNeil's greatness as an athlete during his days at Nipomo High School.
McNeil, who graduated from Nipomo in 2010, was a three-time letter winner in multiple sports -- basketball and golf.
In fact, on the Titans' golf team, McNeil was a three-time All-League pick and team MVP. McNeil played in the prestigious U.S. Junior Amateur.Â
On the hardwood, McNeil averaged over 17 points a game during his senior season, helping the Titans advance to the playoffs.Â
There's also this footnote in McNeil's bio: "...took up baseball during senior year."
Yes, McNeil, who was a talented youth baseball player, didn't focus on the sport during his high school days until returning to it as a senior in the spring of 2010.Â
That was a brilliant choice.Â
When the first Life Pacific University men’s soccer team comes on to the pitch for its debut in early February, Myles Baro will be part of it.
The left-handed hitter, who also swung a golf club left-handed but throws a baseball with his right hand, put together one of the more dazzling offensive seasons the area has seen over the last decade. McNeil hit .446 with seven home runs, three triples, 13 doubles and 30 RBIs. He also scored 26 times while smacking 41 hits in 26 games. He struck out 10 times that year and drew six walks.Â
McNeil also pitched for Nipomo and coach John Stevens in 2010.
“He’s such an exciting player at shortstop — he covers a lot of ground and he makes a lot of plays. But we figured this was an emergency, and we had to go with him," Stevens said after McNeil earned a win over Righetti in 2010.Â
McNeil is the third Player of the Decade nominee. He joins former Santa Ynez standout Zach Torra and Righetti's Troy Prober.Â
McNeil initially committed to play baseball at Cal State Northridge, but eventually ended up at Long Beach State.Â
There, he blossomed into a 6-foot-1, 180-pound infielder with quick hands, smooth feet and a sweet stroke. He started for three seasons with the Dirtbags, playing from 2011-13. He played in 164 games at LBSU and made 154 starts, primarily playing second base. As a junior, he hit .348 to earn First Team All-Big West honors as a utility player. McNeil added 16 doubles during his 2013 season with a .398 OBP and 13 stolen bases for the Dirtbags.
Where is McNeil now? Well, he's probably on a golf course somewhere, though that's not his day job. McNeil was selected in the 12th round of the MLB Draft in 2013 and is currently a starting utility player for the New York Mets. McNeil was named an All-Star in 2019.
McNeil, who will be 29 in April, has hit .319 in about two full seasons for the Mets. He's compiled 9.4 WAR in 248 games. He finished sixth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2018 in just 63 games, hitting .329.
For his major league career, McNeil is slashing .319/.383/.501 with 63 doubles, seven triples and 30 home runs. He's driven in 117 runs and score 137 times.Â
That all almost didn't happen as McNeil was drawn to the game of golf and hoped for a future on the links.
"I grew up on a par-three course in Santa Barbara," McNeil said for a Times story in 2009. "My dad first took me out when I was four. I started playing tournaments when I was 12 or 13."
In 2010, McNeil was named to the All-Area First Team in both basketball and baseball.
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Arroyo Grande's Jacob Cano and Jeff McNeil congratulate each other after McNeil scored a run on Cano's sacrifice during a Babe Ruth tournament game in July of 2007.
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Pictured, from left to right, are Nipomo High student-athletes Kevin Britt (Cal Poly), Duane Hanna (Sac State), Akeem King (San Jose State), Kaitlynn Penner (South Carolina State ) and Jeff McNeil (Cal St. Northridge) in February of 2010. McNeil went on to play baseball at Long Beach State and now plays for the New York Mets.
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Nipomo's Jeff McNeil heads to the dugout during a game against Righetti on March 24, 2010. McNeil had a stellar senior season at Nipomo, went on to play at Long Beach State and is now starts for the New York Mets.
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Nipomo's Jeff McNeil pitches against Righetti during a game on March 24, 2010. McNeil had a stellar senior season at Nipomo, went on to play at Long Beach State and is now starts for the New York Mets.
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Nipomo's Jeff McNeil pitches against Righetti during a game on March 24, 2010. McNeil had a stellar senior season at Nipomo, went on to play at Long Beach State and is now starts for the New York Mets.
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Nipomo High's Jeff McNeil qualified for the USJGA Championship held at the Trump National Golf Course in New Jersey in 2009.
Braves Mets Baseball
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil, center, and Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson, left, react after McNeil is called out during the fourth inning of the baseball game at Citi Field, Friday, July 24, 2020, in New York. The call was overturned on review and McNeil was safe at second with a double.
Top stories of 2019: Nipomo grad Jeff McNeil's journey to MLB All-Star Game comes in at No. 3
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil swings during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Sept. 3 in Washington.
Top stories of 2019: Nipomo grad Jeff McNeil's journey to MLB All-Star Game comes in at No. 3
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil (6) reacts on first base after hitting a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves on June 30.
Mets Nationals Baseball
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil swings during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Sept. 3 in Washington.
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New York Mets' Jeff McNeil (6) reacts on first base after hitting a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves on June 30.
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Part of Nipomo High School's recently renovated stadium includes a new scoreboard, part of which was funded by former Titan Jeff McNeil, who plays for the New York Mets.
Photos: Arroyo Grande beats Titans at first game at refurbished Nipomo High field
Part of Nipomo High School's recently renovated stadium includes a new scoreboard, part of which was funded by former Titan Jeff McNeil, who plays for the New York Mets.
Mets Philles Baseball
New York Mets Jeff McNeil bats against the Philadelphia Phillies during the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday.
Mets Orioles Baseball
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil, center, high-fives teammates in the dugout after scoring on Todd Frazier's single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 15 in Baltimore.
Pro Baseball Roundup: McNeil impresses after promotion to Mets
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil, center, high-fives teammates in the dugout after scoring on Todd Frazier's single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 15 in Baltimore.
Pro Baseball Roundup: McNeil impresses after promotion to Mets
New York Mets Jeff McNeil bats against the Philadelphia Phillies during the Little League Classic baseball game at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa., Sunday.
Jeff McNeil busy proving he belongs in the majors
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil (68) follows through on a home run during the sixth inning of Monday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. McNeil's blast traveled an estimated 399 feet for his second career major league home run.
Jeff McNeil busy proving he belongs in the majors
New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (68) leaps to evade Cincinnati Reds' Scooter Gennett after forcing him out during the sixth inning of a game Monday in New York. McNeil went 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored as the Mets beat the Reds 6-4.
Jeff McNeil busy proving he belongs in the majors
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil watches a double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday in New York. McNeil is hitting .364 on the season, having played in 13 games for the Mets.Â
Reds Mets Baseball
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil (68) follows through on a home run during the sixth inning of Monday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. McNeil's blast traveled an estimated 399 feet for his second career major league home run.
Reds Mets Baseball
New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (68) leaps to evade Cincinnati Reds' Scooter Gennett after forcing him out during the sixth inning of a game Monday in New York. McNeil went 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored as the Mets beat the Reds 6-4.
Braves Mets Baseball
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil watches a double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday in New York. McNeil is hitting .364 on the season, having played in 13 games for the Mets.Â
Braves Mets Baseball
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil watches a double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, Aug. 4, in New York. The Nipomo High School graduate is hitting .267 with four doubles, two home runs and 12 RBIs since being called up from Triple A Las Vegas.
Mets Pirates Baseball
Pittsburgh's David Freese, left, rounds third past New York Mets third baseman Jeff McNeil (68) after hitting a home run off starting pitcher Steven Matz (32) in the first inning of a game in Pittsburgh, Thursday. McNeil, a Nipomo High grad, made his first major league start Thursday, going 1 for 2 as he reached base four times and scored a run.
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Nipomo High grad Jeff McNeil makes a throw to first while playing for the St. Lucie Mets in the Florida State League. McNeil was named to the FSL All-Star team on June 8.
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Nipomo High grad Jeff McNeil bats while playing for the St. Lucie Mets in the Florida State League in 2015. McNeil has since moved up to Triple-A, with the Las Vegas 51s.
A.J. Reed, Jeff McNeil
Houston Astros' A.J. Reed safely tags third base against New York Mets' Jeff McNeil during a spring training game in March of 2016 in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
What's Nipomo grad Jeff McNeil up to? He's currently among the top hitters in the star-studded Eastern League
Nipomo High grad Jeff McNeil runs the bases while playing for the St. Lucie Mets in the Florida State League in 2015.
McNeil slides safely
Binghamton Rumble Ponies infielder Jeff McNeil, a Nipomo High graduate, slides safely in the third base during a game against the Akron RubberDucks earlier this season in a Double-A game. McNeil moved up to Triple-A Las Vegas and has been called up to the major league club Tuesday.
New York Mets call up Nipomo High grad Jeff McNeil
Houston Astros' A.J. Reed safely tags third base against New York Mets' Jeff McNeil during a spring training game in March of 2016 in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Padres Mets Baseball
New York Mets' Jeff McNeil (68) celebrates with teammates Seth Lugo (67), Asdrubal Cabrera (13) and Wilmer Flores (4) after a baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday in New York. The Mets won 6-3.
Nipomo High grad Jeff McNeil has memorable debut for New York Mets
New York Mets infielder Jeff McNeil reacts as he runs to first base after hitting a single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Tuesday in New York. The Nipomo High graduate recorded his first major league hit on the very first pitch he faced. He made his first major league start Thursday against the Pirates.
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