Mar 27, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) reacts after striking out with the bases loaded against the Houston Astros to end the ninth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

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“Choke Artist” – Yankees Fans Celebrate as Juan Soto’s Strikeout Seal Mets’ Loss in MLB Opening Day

A Mets dream turned into a Yankees fairytale moment.

Juan Soto’s Mets debut had all the makings of a storybook moment, until it turned into a fairytale ending for Yankees fans instead.

Calling him a “Choke Artist” is excessive. We all know that label won’t age well. But for Yankees fans, who have been drowning in bad news since October 2024, finding joy in the little things is all they have left. This was, what many would say, cathartic.

Of all the gut punches the Yankees took in the offseason, losing Soto stung the most. They gave up a haul of prospects for a one-year rental, only to watch him walk, straight into the arms of the Mets, no less. And just to twist the knife, Soto was instrumental in breaking the Yankees’ 15-year World Series drought (even if they fell short of the trophy). Then he was gone. To Queens.

So yeah, Yankees fans had some scores to settle. Every defensive misstep, every off night, Soto will be under the Bronx microscope all season. And moments like today will be replayed and relished.

To make things even sweeter, the Yankees won their own nail-biter, powered by homers from their homegrown duo, Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe.

Soto, meanwhile, found himself in a perfect “prove them wrong” scenario, down by two, two outs, runners on the corners, facing closer Josh Hader. Hader quickly fell behind 3-0 before battling back to a full count. Then, with the count 3-2, he threw a slider, darting out of the zone, baiting Soto into a whiff. Game over.

ALSO READ: Mets’ $765 Million Man Juan Soto Falls Short on MLB Opening Day

From Yankees fans calling it the “greatest moment of their lives” to the ironic headlines, “Juan Soto launches a go-ahead three-run blast to give the Mets the lead”, this is how Yankees fans reacted:

Choke artist Juan Soto doing what he does best – choking in a big spot. Guy’s never had a big hit in his life. At least ace Clay Holmes gave the Mets 4.2 IP though!!!
— Tommy Smokes (@TomScibelli) March 27, 2025

JUAN SOTO LAUNCHES A GO-AHEAD THREE-RUN BLAST TO GIVE THE METS THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/7SfwRcyXbR
— Rod (@theyankscenter) March 27, 2025

$800M strikeout
— Apex Calibre 👌🏻 (@Apex_Calibre) March 27, 2025

Ugly swing. Remember a year ago he was with us beating them in Houston on opening day.
— Brandon (@LetsGoBrando93) March 28, 2025

“Juan Soto strikes out and the Mets lose!”

Me: pic.twitter.com/ixa3X0VNwx
— Jake Montgomery (@JakeMontgomery_) March 27, 2025

greatest moment of my life pic.twitter.com/4nFK83uI95
— . (@JuanSotoHater) March 27, 2025

Me liking every tweet clowning the $800 million dollar man Juan Soto pic.twitter.com/Lgs1BzsfQG
— 🃏. (@BRUNS0N11SH11M) March 27, 2025

1 year ago today

Yankees Juan Soto> Mets Juan Soto pic.twitter.com/F5HVgCV5rW https://t.co/DE82icjx83
— ColeIsKing (@ColeIsKing_) March 27, 2025

Juan Soto has Yankee fans happy the Astros won a game I never thought I’d see the day
— Matt (@HoodieGleyber) March 27, 2025

Yankees 1-0

Juan Soto 0-1 pic.twitter.com/gUWkYtSZTT
— Coach James🇭🇹 (@TheJamesEdrick) March 27, 2025

Juan Soto’s too good to lose out on moments like this often, but that won’t stop Yankees fans from feasting on every whiff, every error, every Mets collapse like it’s a five-course meal.

They lost their guy. If they can’t have him, watching him fail in Queens is the next best thing. And for now? They’re eating good.

Juan Soto

Mets

Yankees

Mohsin Baldiwala

mlb

Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.