This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo’s Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Over the weekend, Jeff McNeil crossed another item off his career bucket list. When Pete Alonso missed the final inning of Saturday’s game due to a hit-by-pitch, McNeil filled in at first base for the top of the ninth. It was the first time he had manned the position since he was in Single-A ball.

The experience made McNeil one of 407 players in AL/NL history to appear at all seven non-battery positions. In this age of specialization, that sort of thing is becoming increasingly rare; only 17 active players have done it, including former Mets Eduardo Escobar and Matt Reynolds. Twelve of those 17 have also pitched at some point in their careers. Only Escobar has caught as well, making him one of 64 players -- and the only active one -- in AL/NL history to man all nine positions.

McNeil would like to become the 65th. Although he has no interest in squatting behind home plate to catch a Kodai Senga ghost fork, McNeil has mused about the idea of catching a position player -- much as Escobar did to get his inning at the position in 2017. The pitching part is easier, given how frequently teams ask position players to soak up a few outs.

“I think it would just be fun,” McNeil said. “I don’t know how we do it, but by the time I retire, I would hope I can play all nine. I think it would be a pretty cool thing to do.”

The feat would be an extension of McNeil’s everyday versatility, which the Mets have taken advantage of at every turn throughout his six-year career. A second baseman by trade, McNeil has played both corner outfield spots regularly since 2019. Earlier in his career, he spent significant time at third. And when the Mets need something in a pinch -- first base, for example, or shortstop or center field, which McNeil played for the first time earlier this year -- they know where to turn.

“I don’t have any doubt that Jeff could play anywhere on the field,” manager Buck Showalter said. “He presents a lot of possibilities as we go forward.”

McNeil’s versatility is one of the reasons why the Mets felt comfortable giving him a four-year, $50 million contract prior to this season. Initially, the Mets knew, they would need McNeil to play second base. But the ability to play elsewhere figured to be useful in 2023 and beyond. Should the Mets decide to make top prospect Luisangel Acuña their everyday second baseman in 2025, for example, McNeil could slide more permanently to a corner outfield spot -- to cite one of many possible examples.

McNeil takes nearly as much pride in offering those options as he does in producing lofty batting averages. Given a choice, McNeil added, he would rather spend a season playing multiple positions than just one.

“If you have someone who can do it, why not have them do it?” McNeil said. “Not too many guys in the big leagues can play all the positions. So I think that’s where my value is.”