Who doesn’t love to shoot a few adversaries in a video game? That excitement skyrockets when it’s the no-frills Call of Duty! While COD has fans worldwide, the most expensive MLB player is no exception. Yes, Mets slugger Juan Soto is the latest to flaunt his gaming skills with COD. But it’s not just about playing—the game marks the highly anticipated return of the Verdansk map, a nostalgic moment for all COD fans. When will it be available? For Soto, his towering homers remain the priority, so what’s his goal for 2025?
For those unfamiliar, the tac-map for Verdansk—the beloved Battle Royale map—is set to make its long-awaited return next month after a three-and-a-half-year hiatus. Call of Duty: Warzone has officially revealed the map, which first debuted in 2020. However, in December 2021, it was replaced by Caldera with the release of Season 1 of Call of Duty: Vanguard. Now, as fans prepare to return home with the arrival of Season 3 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Juan Soto is just as excited as everyone else.
A new clip shared by Soto on Instagram shows him getting involved with the new COD skin and showing off his gaming skills to his Mets teammates. While it’s unclear if he managed to take down his foes, one thing is certain—Soto was all in. For the unversed, playing COD is not a newfound love for Soto. According to his fellow countryman, the Mariners’ centerfielder Julio Rodriguez, Soto even earned a nickname, “The Cop,” owing to his prowess in playing COD. This now just got a level higher with the reintroduction of Verdansk.
COD was always a go-to favorite for Soto; well, second to hitting those towering homers. Other than highlighting Soto’s affection towards COD, the clip also offers insight into the positive atmosphere in the Mets clubhouse. The $765 million hitter has a lot riding on him this year. So, will Soto be the key player for the Mets in getting a ring?
A lot is riding on Soto this year
A once-in-a-generation athlete, Juan Soto is now enjoying his best season to date. According to Statcast, he finished second in the MLB with a .316 xBA with the Yankees in 2024, behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s .321, and third with a .646 xSLG, behind Aaron Judge’s .723 and Shohei Ohtani’s .660. This proves how Soto offers better value than his contemporaries. Last year, Soto’s xOBP was .444, which is the top figure in the MLB. Soto recently had the best season by xOBP of any hitter since 2015, the start of the Statcast era. That’s the value he will offer to the Mets this year.
So where are the Mets going to field Soto? Well, following an incredible season last year, Francisco Lindor has already guaranteed that he will continue to bat leadoff for the Mets. Soto probably has two spaces left, which would be second or third. In that sense, he has had greater success hitting third in his career, with a slash line of .288/.438/548 compared to .268/.407/.483 while batting second, but his success batting second with the Yankees suggests that he is equally at ease in that position. Anyway, the Mets fans are all looking up to Soto to make a successful postseason run.
2025 may be the year for Juan Soto to get his first-ever MVP. While he is ahead of his contemporaries in terms of slugging, the absence of an MVP is a sore point.
Do you think Soto will be the Mets’ key player this year? Share your views with us below.
The post Juan Soto Shows Off His Gaming Side as Call of Duty’s Verdansk Return Fires Up $765M Star for ‘New Teammates’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.