Juan Soto’s still finding his footing.
Juan Soto didn’t jog out a couple of grounders. In most cases, it’s the kind of thing that earns a passing mention, if that. But when you’re carrying a $765 million contract in New York, every slow step becomes an invitation for a firestorm.
After back-to-back games where Soto visibly didn’t run out balls, once in the Bronx, then again in Boston, the criticism came fast. The optics didn’t help: the Mets lost both games, the offense sputtered, and Soto didn’t exactly rush to smooth things over. He skipped postgame media Sunday and, after Monday’s loss, offered a shrug: “I think I’ve been hustling pretty hard. If you saw it today, you could tell.”
That kind of response, indifferent at best, only added fuel to a conversation that’s quickly expanded beyond effort. This isn’t just about not running to first. It’s about expectations, about adaptation, and about what it means when a player chooses the Mets over the Yankees, especially this player.
Soto picked the Mets after a strong season in the Bronx, spurning a reported $760 million offer from the Yankees to ink a record-setting 15-year deal, $765 million deal with their crosstown rivals. His decision drew headlines, admiration, and yes, scrutiny. And now, just two months into his new chapter, every misstep is magnified.
Carlos Mendoza isn’t jumping on that pile. The Mets manager addressed Soto’s effort with him, or at least said he planned to, but declined to share any details or even confirm if the meeting happened. What he did do was offer some necessary perspective.
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“He’s human. He’s 26, man,” Mendoza said. “He’s going to be fine. He’s Juan Soto.” Mendoza acknowledged the adjustment period, and didn’t shy away from the reality that even a World Series winner like Soto is navigating unfamiliar terrain.
“I think he’s comfortable, but everything is new, not only a new team, but just the new contract, the expectations. He’s always been on winning teams and won a World Series. But this is new territory for him. That’s our job as an organization to continue to help him.”
Soto’s numbers aren’t disastrous, he’s slashing .247/.379/.437, but they’re noticeably down from his career line of .285/.421/.532. And the Mets have lost more than just a step lately. After leading the NL East for weeks, they’ve dropped three straight, gone 4-6 in their last 10, and fallen behind the surging Phillies. The offense, once electric, is now ice cold: just 5-for-44 with runners in scoring position over the past week.
“Even though it’s still New York, it’s a new team, it’s a new franchise, new fan base, everything,” said Mets veteran Brandon Nimmo. “He has to do everything a little bit differently. It’s not exactly the same as it was there. He’s settling into it, and honestly, he’s human. For where we’re at, he’s still doing great.”
The Mets were shut out Tuesday in Boston, managing just four hits in a 2-0 loss. Soto went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. It was quiet, but not terrible, much like his season so far. But the contract size, the pinstripes in the rearview, and the stakes of New York baseball mean quiet doesn’t go unnoticed.
Juan Soto is still finding his rhythm. And for now, at least, Carlos Mendoza is giving him the space to do it.
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It’s easy to forget, given everything he’s already accomplished, a World Series ring, five Silver Sluggers, multiple All-Star nods, and now the richest contract in MLB history, that Juan Soto is only 26. The resume almost says seasoned veteran, but he’s still just a few years removed from being a prodigy.
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