One of the New York Mets’ historic pitchers, Dwight Gooden, is one who is not worried about the long-term future of Juan Soto with the Queens-based club, according to a report from The Post.
The Dominican has had a lackluster start to his tenure with the Mets after signing a record 15-year, $765 million contract during the offseason, including a hitless performance in five at-bats in the team’s 7-5 loss to the Dodgers in 13 innings at Citi Field on Friday night.
Doctor K reaches out to Juan Soto
The famous Doctor K, whose number was retired by the Mets after helping them win the 1986 World Series, is not too worried about the fact that Soto has a batting average of just .236 with eight home runs, 21 RBIs and a .787 OPS, with 182 at-bats.
Gooden believes Soto set such a high standard during his career that fans’ expectations were raised to a global level with him.
“He set the bar so high in his first six years, when the expectations were already there, and then we add the contract he just signed, everyone expects everything from him,” Gooden told TMZ. “Unfortunately, with every little thing that happens now, they point to him with too many excuses.”
Dr. K added that he would love to have a chat with Soto and believes he just needs “someone in his ear to let him know that everything will be fine”.
Soto has been criticized for more than just his poor performance at the plate. His attitude was also questioned last week after he failed to shine on two occasions.
He didn’t run hard on a grounder to second against the Yankees last Sunday, and then on a long single off the Green Monster at Fenway during the first game of the series against Red Sox on Monday.
Soto declared after the game in Boston that he was “pushing” himself, while manager Carlos Mendoza said he would talk to his superstar.
Soto’s change in the batting order
Soto was also dropped from second to third in the Mets’ batting order for his last game against the Red Sox on Wednesday and again on Friday night against the Dodgers.
Soto struck out in his first two at-bats Wednesday night without swinging at a single pitch, and later told The Post that he is still adjusting to his new situation with the Mets.
“It takes time,” Soto said Friday. “It’s not easy to adjust to a place. Definitely some places are easier to adjust to than others.”
Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, told Heyman that “wearing the crown” of a mega-contract also takes some getting used to for Soto, something Gooden seems to agree with.
“He earned that contract, but now he’s in a situation where he should be able to relax, one would think, but the added pressure weighs in,” Gooden said. “Sometimes it takes time, we forget he’s 26 years old and he’s never been through this before.”
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