In the Mets, effort is not optional; it is expected, demanded and dissected on every replay angle available. If you are wearing a Mets jersey with a $765 million tag attached to it, you do not get to jog to first base. Not without implications. When fans identify something off, it does not take long before whispers turn to roars. Because in this city, they have seen legends bleed for the uniform. So when the hustle disappeared, the honeymoon ended fast, specifically for Juan Soto.
It began with a pair of plays that, at first glance, looked like everyday baseball moments. However, for fans scanning closely and critics itching to pounce, they highlighted a larger story.
In the eighth inning of a tense game against the Yankees, Juan Soto hit a routine grounder up the middle. DJ LeMahieu made a clean sliding stop, however, what truly got attention was the lack of urgency. The Mets outfielder was scarcely halfway down the line by the time the throw left DJ LeMahieu’s glove.
Just 24 hours later against the Red Sox, another moment of sluggishness activated déjà vu. Manager Carlos Mendoza did not tolerate it. After the game, he said, “We will talk to him about it.”
“With the wind and all that… you have got to get out of the box,” he further added. That was the manager’s tone.
When asked about it after the Red Sox game, Soto, in question, did not deflect. He doubled down. “I think I have been hustling pretty hard,” he told reporters. “If you see it today, you could tell.”
That quote, shared by @SNYtv on X quickly became a sparkling rod online. It was not just that the response seemed tone-deaf; it was that it flew in the face of what supporters had just seen with their own eyes. In New York, where hustle is currency and effort often earns more praise than output, the quote did not land as calculated. It whisked the pot even more.
Juan Soto was asked about not hustling out of the box last night vs. the Yankees and tonight vs. the Red Sox
“I think I’ve been hustling pretty hard. If you see it today, you could tell” pic.twitter.com/vOmQivgtZR
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 20, 2025
However, context matters and Juan Soto has not exactly been sleepwalking through the season. In fact, right after that slow jog to first, he stole second base. It marked his sixth swipe of the year. Not long before, he had taken third in a high-force spot against the Yankees before scoring the game-winner. These instances tell a distinctive story: a star who is clearly trying to add dimensions to his game. And yet, in baseball’s unwritten rulebook, nothing replaces busting it out of the box. That is the baseline. And, that’s where the firestorm began.
The Internet Reacts Loudly to Soto’s Hustle Controversy
Baseball fans are passionate and when it comes to effort on the field, specifically, from a superstar with a nine-figure contract, the expectations are sky-high. After the Mets star’s now-viral quote justifying his hustle, social media burst with reactions. While some offered context or gave Soto the benefit of the doubt, many supporters did not hold back. Their responses were not just emotional, they were packed with frustration, shaped by the weight of expectations, and backed by performance data that suggests all may not be well in Queens.
“Within 2 months, the entire team and fanbase will hate him. He’s delusional,” one fan reacted bluntly. The sentiment shows growing tension, especially with Soto’s public remarks not aligning with what fans are watching.
According to the Bergen Record, Soto’s OPS was at .752 through the first full month with the Mets, a notable drop for a four-time All-Star who had never seen his OPS below .853 in a full season. Despite sparks of baserunning aggression, the consistency just has not been there. This unhook is fueling the feeling that a crack could form not just with fans, but, potentially, inside the team, too.
Another user rang in with, “Overpaid, now you see the results.” And that is a statement grounded in stats. With Soto now carrying the richest contract in baseball history at $765 million, every move he makes on and off the field is magnified. His lack of power production and occasional lapses in hustle feed a narrative that he is not living up to the deal.
Soto went 1-for-10 in the three-game Subway Series against the Yankees. In a market like New York, underperforming is forgivable, but appearing indifferent? That is simply unforgivable.
“He is not helping himself at all. Take some accountability, dude,” said another X user, echoing what many felt after Soto’s post-game quote. Accountability is the currency of leadership, specifically, in a high-pressure market. The Mets, 29-18, have gone 5-5 over their last 10 games and their NL East guide is suddenly in trouble. Fans often look for signs of ownership when things go sideways and Soto’s tone, though likely meant to defend himself, came off to many as deflective. This is a town that embraced talents such as Jeter and Piazza not just for what they did, but how they carried themselves in times like these.
A deeper concern was shown in the comment, “Soto is like nothing… does he really care after all that money given to him?” That’s a brutal assessment, but one rooted in a fanbase feeling full investment. Mets fans watched their team hand out the largest contract in sports history, only to now wonder if their superstar is mentally checked out. The team’s offensive gloom carried into a third straight series, in a 3-1 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday. Combine that with inconsistent effort on routine plays, and it is no wonder some feel they were sold a mirage rather than a miracle.
Then came perhaps the toughest reaction. One fan said, “This man is so done with the Mets and it has not even been a year. He needs to contact Boras, void the contract and go sign with a team he truly wishes to play for.” This reaction highlights a question related to motivation, fit and desire. Juan Soto’s demeanor, when matched with moments of indifference, has raised alarms. Whether fair or not, the Mets fans are reading between the lines and assuming a future that looks less related to commitment and more related to cashing checks.
All told, the backlash highlights a vital truth in MLB: passion cuts both ways. When fans love a star, they rally. When they begin to doubt him, the fallout can be swift and unforgiving. Right now, in the court of public opinion, Juan Soto’s hustle—and lack thereof—is on trial.
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