Former New York Mets hitting coach Eric Chavez has broken his silence following his recent dismissal and made statements that have ignited debate among fans and analysts of the team. During his appearance on the popular podcast Foul Territory, the former player revealed internal details about the club’s offensive approach and pointed directly to the strategic decisions that, according to him, limited the potential of the lineup.
“During my time there, I saw a lot of things that just weren’t done and could work. If they really want to be better, they have to use Juan Soto as the leadoff hitter, not Francisco Lindor,” Chavez said bluntly, marking a clear difference between the two players and how their role could alter collective performance.
The statistics behind the debate
The figures for both support the debate. Francisco Lindor played 160 games in the season, with a .267 average, 172 hits, 31 home runs, 86 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. Meanwhile, Juan Soto had a .263 average, but with an impressive .396 OBP, 43 home runs, 105 RBIs and 127 walks. For Chavez, placing Soto in the leadoff spot would have completely changed the offensive dynamic of the team, taking advantage of his ability to get on base and generate pressure from the start of games.
“We wanted Soto to attack the first pitch more”
Chavez also revealed that during the season he held meetings with manager Carlos Mendoza to adjust Soto’s approach at the plate. “We met to talk about how to get Juan Soto to attack the first pitch more. We wanted to take advantage of his talent and keep him from falling into unfavorable counts so quickly,” he explained. According to the former coach, the goal was to make the Dominican more aggressive, known for his almost legendary patience at the plate, but who sometimes lets pitches go by that he could take advantage of.
Criticism of the traditional team approach
The Venezuelan, who played 17 seasons in the major leagues, was also critical of the internal philosophy of the coaching staff. “There are teams that cling to traditional structures, and that sometimes costs you victories. Nowadays, the batting order is more strategic than hierarchical,” he said, alluding to the resistance within the clubhouse to make adjustments based on modern analytics.
Mets once again at the center of the debate
Eric Chavez’s comments come just weeks after his departure along with Jeremy Barnes, with whom he shared hitting duties. Although he is no longer part of the organization, Chavez defended his coaching staff and assured that the Mets’ talent was enough to compete at the highest level. With his words, the former coach has reopened the debate on whether internal decisions and lack of strategic adaptation affected the team’s offensive performance during the 2025 campaign.
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