The New York Mets won at home on Monday by blanking the Miami Marlins 2-0, with a RBI double to center field by Juan Soto, who is finally beginning to prove his worth.
The Dominican signed a $765 million contract with the New Yorkers, and cut short all the criticism that was around him by being part of his team’s victory that allows them to stay in the fight for the lead in the National League East.
The Mets started the season with a 6-3 winning streak in the first nine games, and after playing six on the road, they returned home for the presentation at Citi Field of Soto, one of the Mets’ main strategic decisions during the preseason.
In 2024, the Caribbean player had a batting average of .288, with 166 hits, 41 home runs, 109 RBIs and 128 runs scored in the 157 games he played with the Yankees.
“Despite the cold and dampness at Citi Field this weekend, the Mets sold 121,771 tickets for their season-opening series. That figure is roughly 29% higher than their first home series last year,” explained MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. “About 21% higher than their best three-game series of last season.”
This indicates that the signing of the 26-year-old outfielder has generated expectations among the fans who turned out in large numbers during the Mets’ first three home games, an unusual topic considering that attendance has been gradually declining over the past two years
Juan Soto’s numbers in 2025
So far, Juan Soto is batting .286 with 10 hits in 38 at-bats, four RBIs, eight runs scored and one home run, while also receiving eight walks and striking out five times.
However, it doesn’t seem to be just Soto who is driving the team’s fan appeal.
The Mets re-signed Pete Alonso, who remains the center of attraction everywhere he goes, and it’s no surprise that fans are also lining up to see him.
Alonso is batting .314 at the start of the season, with 11 hits in 35 at-bats, 11 RBIs and six runs scored, three home runs and has received six walks and struck out five times.
Juan Soto silences criticism against his defense
Alonso’s record contract generated enormous controversy about the amount he receives, and whether it is up to the level of those $765 million.
Soto has been a great hitter since he arrived in the Majors, but with the glove he is not exactly the best. Despite being nominated for the Gold Glove in 2024, many dismissed the news, either considering it false or blaming Soto for his poor fielding, something the Dominican sees as motivation.
“It motivates me. I’m not saying it bothers me or anything, it just drives me to prove that I’m good at defense,” and so far he has proven it.
He currently ranks first in outs and even ranks first in assists and fielding percentage, a remarkable improvement in his performance.
In 2024 with the Yankees, he achieved a .994 fielding percentage in 157 games, committing just two errors in 314 total chances; he also recorded 302 putouts and 10 assists.
In early April 2025, Soto has maintained a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000 in 10 games, with 19 outs and no errors, a slap in the face for those who did not believe in him.
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