From Competing Against Jordan Spieth to MLB All-Star: Jeff McNeil's Dual-Sport Journey

Jeff McNeil experienced one of the most surreal moments in professional sports history when his phone rang on the 14th hole at TPC Monterey at Pasadera last December, delivering trade news that would reshape his baseball career while he was pursuing his other passion.

The two-time MLB All-Star was deep into a round of golf when New York Mets president David Stearns called to inform him he had been traded to the Oakland Athletics, ending his eight-year tenure with the only MLB organization he had ever known.

I didn't really know my playing partners well, but they knew I played baseball, and I was like, Hey, guys, I just got traded, McNeil recalls about the December 22 conversation that altered his professional trajectory. It was a crazy 15 minutes.

Despite the shocking news causing a double bogey on the subsequent hole, McNeil demonstrated remarkable resilience by finishing with a respectable 73, showcasing the mental toughness that has defined both his athletic pursuits.

McNeil's relationship with golf predates his baseball fame by decades. Growing up in Nipomo, California, he initially viewed golf as his primary path to athletic success, choosing it over baseball for his first three high school seasons due to scheduling conflicts.

The defining moment in McNeil's athletic career came at the 2009 U.S. Junior Amateur at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he competed against future PGA Tour professionals including eventual tournament winner Jordan Spieth.

I knew Jordan Spieth was the No. 1 junior amateur in the world, and I vividly remember him hitting balls next to me, McNeil explains. I just stopped and watched him for a couple minutes. I go, Wow, that's better than mine. That's different.

That range session with Spieth provided a reality check about professional golf's competitive demands. While McNeil played solid golf in the opening round and appeared positioned for match play advancement, a disastrous second day in adverse conditions shifted his athletic focus permanently.

After failing to attract college golf scholarship offers at the tournament, McNeil accepted a baseball scholarship despite having never played a high school varsity game. He switched sports for his senior season and never reconsidered from a career perspective.

Today, McNeil maintains a plus-1.8 handicap index at Monarch Dunes Golf Club in California. It has reached as low as plus-2.8, making him among the planet's elite celebrity golfers. His golf highlights include a career-low 63 at Spyglass Hill and victory in the 2024 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.

Playing golf now is just more fun. There's not a whole lot of expectations, McNeil reflects. I want to win; I want to compete. I work hard on the game, but in the end, it's kind of a hobby.

The competitive fire that drives McNeil's baseball success translates directly to tournament golf, where he experiences nerves unlike anything on the diamond. During his Tournament of Champions victory, McNeil recalls his ball falling off the tee multiple times due to anxiety.

Interestingly, while McNeil is known for contact hitting rather than power in baseball, winning the 2022 National League batting title with a .284 career average, he demonstrates considerable length on golf courses. He claims his batting average exceeds .300 the day after playing golf, though he'll never require permission to play during baseball season.

McNeil's trade to Oakland has enhanced his golf connections, with new teammate Brent Rooker immediately reaching out about the team's golf group. For McNeil, golf serves as a bonding mechanism with teammates and a window into personalities.

I feel like you get to really know who somebody is out on the golf course, McNeil observes, highlighting golf's role in building relationships beyond baseball.

Looking ahead, McNeil hasn't ruled out pursuing PGA Tour Champions like friend John Smoltz once his baseball career concludes, though family considerations may ultimately influence that decision.