Neymar became the fourth most famous athlete on earth by dominating soccer. His baseball skills won’t drive him up ESPN’s definitive list.
The Brazil and FC Barcelona superstar took some swings in the batting cage Tuesday during a visit with the New York Mets at Citi Field. Neymar received tips from Mets batting coach Kevin Long and slugger Yoenis Cespedes, but they didn’t turn him into a MLB-ready, left-handed hitter.
“Very difficult for me,” Neymar told The Wall St. Journal’s Andrew Beaton through a translator.
Neymar, who's at Citi Field today, better at soccer than baseball: pic.twitter.com/Gi4tkmq35I
— Andrew Beaton (@andrewlbeaton) May 31, 2016
Neymar eventually got into the, um, swing of things.
International #soccer star @neymarjr took cuts in the cage before tonight's game. #Mets #FCBarcelona @FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/qmKmoG2Qg2
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 31, 2016
Neymar fared much better when he moved closer to his comfort zone.
Neymar juggling a baseball at Citi Field in a Mets uniform. pic.twitter.com/wZXZMr2VRr
— Andrew Beaton (@andrewlbeaton) May 31, 2016
The Mets vs. Chicago White Sox game was the first sporting event Neymar has ever attended in the United States. His baseball knowledge is in its infancy.
“I’m starting to get to know it right now,” he said.
Armed with that knowledge, we conclude Neymar fared better in the batting cage than we would have expected.
