R emember Jeff McNeil? Well, he’s back and not in pog form. Not even in the lineup, on the field, or on the roster. The veteran New York Mets utility man celebrated the birth of

Jeff McNeil returned to the clubhouse on Sunday after spending a week and a half home in California, rehabbing his right wrist and attending the birth of his second child. That meant McNeil watching Pete Alonso’s go-ahead home run from the maternity unit of the hospital.

A primary hurdle before the Mets can seriously consider adding him to the roster for the next round: facing live pitching. The Mets have a pair of relievers, Huascar Brazoban and Max Kranick, on standby on the taxi squad who can pitch to McNeil if the team wants; others can be brought to town too.