Juan Soto was once the crown jewel of the Bronx, but now he has to deal with the rough waters of Queens. The Soto Shuffle and the confident smirk that used to define him seem to have been left behind in pinstripes. Soto’s move to the New York Mets has not gone smoothly, which has raised eyebrows and suspicions. But is he paying attention to it?
Soto’s deal with the Mets naturally raised expectations to the highest level. Fans were expecting the same exciting performances that had become his trademark while he was with the Yankees. But things have been a mixed bag. His stats through the first 53 games of the 2025 season are good, but they don’t fit what he has been known for. With an OPS of .770 and eight home runs, Soto is hitting .233. These numbers don’t meet the standard he set in 2024, when he hit a career-high 41 home runs and had a career-high slugging percentage of .569, and an OPS of .988.
The aftermath? Discussions, comments, and observations have come from every corner of the Insider office, former players, the commentator’s box, and fans. The voices are quite loud off the field. A few days back, one such voice, David Cone, the former Yankees and Mets pitcher, also shared his opinion. He said, “But bottom line is, Juan Soto’s got to feel it emotionally. And until he does, we’re not going to see the same old swagger that we’re used to seeing from him.” But the question lingers: Are the Mets and Soto himself listening to these voices?
Among all the noise from outside and the expert opinions, the Mets’ clubhouse has a different version of the Soto story: one of quiet resolve, as told by those who knows Soto best. When asked about it, Starling Marte gave a sneak-peek into the mindset of Soto.
“He’s a guy who doesn’t pay much attention to what’s said in the media. He focuses on being better every day and works really hard.” “He spends a lot of time in the cages — almost every day. He’s starting to feel better with each passing day,” Marte told NJ Advance Media at his locker in the Mets’ clubhouse on Monday.
Not only Marte but the entire Mets camp has faith in Soto, and they all stand on the same page. Marte further added, “Everybody knows the caliber of player he is. So, keep working hard because he’s hitting the ball really hard, and they’re just not falling. But when they do start to fall, everyone will see how great he is. And he’ll start to feel better.”
Not surprising! In the past, too, from Mendoza to Lindor, everyone has expressed belief in Soto’s hitting capabilities. And his latest performance against the Dodgers and the White Sox somewhat proves it.
Juan Soto is swinging back
Juan Soto’s recent games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox have shown he can bounce back and come through on big occasions. This has somewhat silenced criticism and shown his value to the New York Mets. What could be a better way to answer all your critics at once?
Soto ended a protracted slump with a big two-run double in the fourth inning of the May 24 game against the Dodgers. That turned a 2-2 tie into a 4-2 advantage.
That hit was his first extra-base hit since May 9, which greatly helped his confidence and the team’s morale. Before this game, Soto had only hit .125 with two RBIs in his last 11 games. This performance was a big change for him.
Soto kept up his rhythm by hitting a sacrifice fly that tied the game in the eighth inning of the May 26 game against the White Sox. The Mets had a hard time scoring runs, as they got only two baserunners in the first six innings. Soto’s crucial hit set up a ninth-inning rally that ended with the Mets winning 2-1.
Soto’s recent contributions have been very important to the Mets’ success. The team’s hopes now depend on how well he keeps playing as the season progresses.
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