PORT ST. LUCIE — Jeff McNeil received an unexpected call in November from an automobile dealership in Southern California.
But this wasn’t a sales pitch.
“The guy on the phone says, ‘Hey, your buddy bought you a car, we just need to know where to send it,’” McNeil told The Post on Friday.
Finally, the Mets second baseman had his prize for winning the National League batting title in 2022.
The purchaser was Francisco Lindor, who fulfilled his promise from 1 ½ years earlier when he told McNeil he would buy him a car if he won the batting title.
McNeil hit .326 in becoming the first Mets player since Jose Reyes in 2011 to accomplish the feat.
Lindor’s purchase was a Ford Bronco Sport, which McNeil said he has worked into his rotation of cars, using it mostly to drive around his local community in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
For McNeil, the sport utility vehicle serves as a trophy of sorts.
“It’s nice to go and look at it because I know what it means: I won the National League title,” McNeil said. “It means a lot, so I am enjoying it.”
Last season wasn’t as smooth for McNeil, who slumped early and didn’t begin a rebound until August.
Overall, he owned a .270/.333/.378 slash line with 10 homers and 55 RBIs.
In late September, McNeil received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection for a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.
McNeil spent two months resting and said he’s prepared for the possibility of an occasional “flare up,” but doesn’t anticipate the elbow becoming an issue.
“Hitting three or four times a week this offseason, I didn’t have any problems with it, so I am really confident with that going into this year,” McNeil said. “It’s a symptom-based kind of injury and I have no symptoms at all.”
McNeil last year saw plenty of action in the outfield, but expects he will largely remain anchored to second base this season.
The Mets traded for outfielder Tyrone Taylor over the winter and also have DJ Stewart on the roster as an outfielder behind the starting unit of Brandon Nimmo, Harrison Bader and Starling Marte.
“I do have the ability to move around if needed, but right now I think I will play second base most days,” McNeil said. “I haven’t talked to [Carlos] Mendoza much about that.”