Jeff McNeil was not central to the box score in the Athletics' 7-3 win over the Red Sox on Saturday, but he still found a way to contribute. The 34-year-old went 0-for-1 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base, another small sign that his recent form is trending in the right direction.
That matters because McNeil has spent much of the season trying to find consistency in an Athletics lineup that has not always given him much support. Through 102 games before Saturday, he was slashing.250 with four home runs, 35 RBI, 30 runs scored and four stolen bases, a line that reflects a mixed year rather than a settled one.
Recent stretch has been much better
The encouraging part for Jeff McNeil is what he has done over his last 15 contests. In that span, he has hit.348 with one home run, seven RBI and three stolen bases, which is a marked improvement on the broader season line.
Even in a game where the bat did not produce a hit, McNeil still reached base and created a run-scoring moment with his legs. For a player who has been framed as another inconsistent bat in an underperforming Athletics lineup, that kind of contribution is useful.
Small signs, but meaningful ones
This was not a headline performance, and it did not need to be. The bigger story is that McNeil is showing more impact over a short run, with the stolen base against the Red Sox fitting the pattern of a player who looks more active and more productive than he did earlier in the season.
Whether that turns into a longer run of steady production will be the key question for Jeff McNeil and the Athletics. For now, the recent numbers suggest there is at least some momentum building after an uneven campaign.
