Jeff McNeil's emotional return to Citi Field includes 2 hits and a win

NEW YORK (AP) — This deep breath in the batter’s box was a little different than usual for Jeff McNeil.

He made an emotional return to Citi Field on Friday night following his offseason trade from the New York Mets to the Athletics. McNeil received a video tribute and a standing ovation prior to his first at-bat, then went 2 for 4 with a ninth-inning RBI single in a 4-0 win.

“Spent, up to now, my entire career with that team, so it’s pretty special,” McNeil said. “I got a little choked up up there. Just overall a super fun night.”

McNeil was drafted by the Mets in 2013 and won the NL batting title in 2022 He was traded to the A’s in December as part of David Stearns’ off-season overhaul that included trading Brandon Nimmo and allowing Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz to leave as free agents.

“I was looking through their lineup and I got (from a teammate): ‘Who do you know?’” McNeil said before the game. “I go, ‘Well, I haven’t played with a lot of these guys.’ It was definitely an interesting offseason for them.”

McNeil, who turned 34 on Wednesday, appeared to be holding back tears as he stood at the top step of the visiting dugout and watched a nearly minute-long tribute shortly before the first pitch.

As he stood near the batter’s box in the second inning, McNeil tipped the bill of his helmet twice in acknowledgment of the ovation from an announced crowd of 36,349. McNeil then took his patented deep breath and hit into a 4-6-3 double play.

“I just tried to collect myself,” McNeil said. “It’s kind of nice when that first at-bat was over, you know? It’s just like, all right, let’s go play baseball.”

McNeil doubled in the fourth and, at second base, robbed rookie Carson Benge of a hit to end the fifth. After lining out in the sixth, McNeil singled in a three-run ninth.

The A's became the first team to shut out the Yankees and Mets on consecutive days, in either order, according to Sportradar.

“Super special day,” McNeil said. “I’m glad I got through it and now we just get to go play baseball.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Athletics' Jeff McNeil (22) runs to first base for an RBI single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, April 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Athletics' Jeff McNeil (22) throws out New York Mets' Luis Robert Jr. at first base after forcing out New York Mets' Jared Young (29) for a double play during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Athletics' Jeff McNeil follows through on a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, April 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Athletics' Jeff McNeil (22) runs to second base for a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, April 10, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Brittney Griner is finalizing a deal to join the Connecticut Sun, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday night because contracts can’t be signed until Saturday.

The 10-time All-Star spent last season with the Atlanta Dream after playing the first 11 years of her career for Phoenix, which drafted her No. 1 in 2013.

The 35-year-old Griner is from Houston and the Connecticut franchise is moving there in 2027.

The 6-foot-9 forward won a WNBA title in 2014 with Phoenix and was the league's leading scorer in 2017 and 2019. She was the defensive player of the year in 2014 and 2015.

Griner also helped the United States win gold in each of the past three Olympics.

Last season for Atlanta, she averaged 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks, which were all career lows.

Griner missed the 2022 season when she was detained for nearly 10 months in Russia after authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis. She was freed in a prisoner swap when the U.S. released notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

The Sun have a young nucleus that Griner will provide a veteran presence for. The team lost Marina Mabrey in the expansion draft to Toronto. Connecticut has Aneesah Morrow, Saniya Rivers and Leila Lacan, all of whom were drafted over the last two seasons. The Sun also acquired former UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards last season.

This has been a busy offseason since the league and the players’ union signed a transformational labor deal that saw average salaries rise nearly fourfold. Players can earn over $1 million annually for the first time in league history, which is more than four times the previous maximum salary. More than 80% of players in the league are free agents.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

FILE - Vinyl BC forward Brittney Griner (42) rebounds in front of Phantom BC wing Natasha Cloud (15) during the first half of a semifinal in their Unrivaled 3-on-3 basketball game, Monday, March 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)