NEW YORK -- The Mets’ Players’ Weekend uniforms may be black and white, but their bats most certainly are not.

In the third installment of Players’ Weekend, various Mets used this three-game series as an opportunity to add custom artwork to their bats. Pete Alonso’s lumber features a roaring polar bear on the barrel, as well as a smaller bear logo on the knob. Jeff McNeil went with a golf theme. Wilson Ramos (Venezuela) and Tomas Nido (Puerto Rico) showed off bats featuring the flags of their homelands.

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As always, players also used their nicknames -- “Polar Bear,” for example -- instead of last names on the backs of their jerseys.

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“It’s neat that the players get recognition,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “They deserve it. This is about the fans first, and then the players. I think it’s cool that they get their nicknames, and they kind of recognize the players this weekend.”

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From the trainer’s room

McNeil continued his Minor League rehab assignment on Friday, shifting his work from Triple-A Syracuse to Class A Short-Season Brooklyn as a way to stay local. As has been his custom in the Majors, McNeil opened the night for the Cyclones with a single. The Mets planned to give him time at third base in the game, as well.

Although Callaway wouldn’t say if the Mets might activate McNeil when he’s first eligible on Saturday, there doesn’t appear to be any obvious reason to continue his rehab assignment. McNeil went just eight days between live games after landing on the injured list Aug. 14 with a strained left hamstring.

McNeil has played relatively little third base this year, but the Mets see the position as a way of keeping him in the lineup while resting other players -- particularly Todd Frazier, who entered Friday’s play batting .173 in August.

“It’ll be nice to be able to move [McNeil] around, keep guys rested and still have a potent offense out there,” Callaway said.

Alumni return

Benny Agbayani and George “The Stork” Theodore were at Citi Field on Friday as part of the Mets’ commitment to reconnect with their alumni from all generations. Agbayani, a Met from 1998-2001, is perhaps best known for his walk-off home run in Game 3 of the '00 National League Division Series. Theodore’s career lasted only two seasons, but his stint included two appearances in the 1973 World Series.

The only Mets player born in Utah, Theodore still frequently watches his former team from afar.

“I’ve been following just about every game,” Theodore said. “It’s just like an energy that’s been building. … Everybody kind of seems to be rooting for each other, and miracles seem to be happening.”