Just a few weeks ago, the whispers around Queens were growing louder.
Was Juan Soto, the Mets‘ $765 million man, cracking under the weight of sky-high expectations?
After a sluggish start to the season, and mounting pressure from fans, media, and his own standards, Soto is now silencing doubters in emphatic fashion.
Over his last 12 games, Soto has caught fire. He’s batting .390 with an eye-popping 1.374 OPS, five home runs, 13 walks, and 15 runs scored. It’s not just the numbers, it’s the swagger.
The infamous Soto Shuffle is back. So are the smirks, struts, and fierce at-bats that made him a superstar.
A turning point in Los Angeles
In Wednesday’s showdown at Dodger Stadium, Soto didn’t even need a hit to dominate.
He worked two seven-pitch walks against Tony Gonsolin, showcasing patience, poise, and personality. He grinned, nodded, and danced between pitches, drawing gasps and cheers with each dramatic moment.
“It’s Juan Soto being Juan Soto,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, echoing a sentiment felt far beyond the dugout.
Those theatrics had been missing. In his first two months with the Mets, Soto posted a .224 average and a .745 OPS – far below his career marks.
While analytics suggested bad luck more than bad process, fans saw a subdued version of the Soto they expected. The flair was gone. The joy seemed absent. But now, that narrative is shifting.
Hitting his stride
Mendoza and Soto have built a close relationship, speaking often about life beyond baseball. That bond has been crucial, as Soto continues to adapt not only to a new team, but to the immense weight of the richest contract in sports history.
“I still need a little more time, but little by little it’s been getting better,” Soto said in Spanish.
His recent stretch – including three homers in four games and a .484 on-base percentage over seven contests – suggests he’s on the brink of an extended tear.
While his season-long batting average (.229) and OPS (.797) remain below expectations, Soto leads the league in walks and ranks in the 95th percentile in hard-hit rate.
Statcast data shows his expected production far exceeds his actual results – a telltale sign of misfortune more than regression.
The Mets are rallying around him
Veteran shortstop Francisco Lindor, who also struggled in his first year in New York, understands Soto’s growing pains all too well. He offered simple advice: “Stay the course. Continue to be Juan Soto.”
Soto, 26, has grounded into 13 double plays in 60 games – a National League high – which reflects both bad luck and slight mechanical tweaks. But those around him aren’t worried. They see the work. The grind. The poise.
“You see him after games. He’s 0-for-4, but if we shook hands, that’s all that matters to him,” Mendoza said.
From Mets president David Stearns to clubhouse leaders like Lindor, the organization is treating Soto’s early season struggles as a phase – not a failure.
“I think it’s huge when you have a group that sticks together,” Soto said. “No matter what is going on.”
As the calendar flips deeper into summer, the Mets may be finding their groove. And at the heart of it is Juan Soto – back in beast mode, just as advertised.
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