The energy was strange that morning. The kind of strange you can feel but cannot quite name, like when the air in the locker room feels heavy, not with drama, but with something quieter. Stars were going through motions, but behind the situation, there was a lingering concern: What happens when a star begins to dim? Francisco Lindor had sensed it, and Juan Soto was going through it. In a game that demands daily effectiveness, even the best hit rough patches. However, what unfolded next was not just about numbers; it was about leadership, loyalty, and a public show of support that lit a spark inside the Mets.
It was just before the series finale against the Colorado Rockies when Carlos Mendoza faced the reporters, calm and collected, and honest. The topic? Soto. Mets skipper peeled back the curtain and said, “You have to have some type of routine where you can always fall back to, whether you are going good or bad.” Mendoza was referring to the star’s quiet discipline amid a rough stretch.
Let’s be honest: the numbers were not pretty. Going into that weekend, Soto had been hitting just .143 over his last 17 games, including a rough 0-for-12 in a crucial series against the Chicago White Sox. The Mets’ fans were restless. The skipper acknowledged that and said, “When Juan feels like the sky is falling, he is the same guy every day.” No excuses, just steady reps, whether it is soft toss or tee work. “Guys are watching. He does not have to say anything. They see it,” Mendoza added further.
Still, it was not just the manager supporting Soto. As the noise built around his slump, Lindor felt the need to step forward. In a heartfelt message to Mets fans, Lindor pleaded, “Continue to give him love; he deserves it.” And this message was not meant to be just PR. It was protection. For Lindor, Soto has become more like a brother. While fans questioned Soto’s worth under the $765 million spotlight, Lindor reminded the fans, “he has been an important addition to the team”.
Then came Saturday, the turning point. Soto finally snapped his 17-game homer drought with a 404-foot bomb to left center against the Rockies. That homer helped the Mets to secure an 8-2 win. In the post-game interview, Soto remained humble and said, “There is still a long way to go. It feels good, but we have got to keep working.” That has been his vibe all along—head down, eyes forward. Teammate Brandon Nimmo also called it “a sign of good things to come.”
With Soto turning the page on his current struggles and winning the support of teammates, it is clear his leadership is extending beyond just his bat, and currently, that quiet influence is lighting a fire under the team’s promising young star.
Brett Baty identifies his spark, starting with Juan Soto
Brett Baty’s resurgence did not just happen overnight; it has been a gritty grind of learning from the best. The biggest influence behind Baty’s bounce-back? Soto. While his early-season issues drew backlash, Baty saw consistency in the chaos.
The third baseman, once on the edge of being sent down for good, has highlighted aspects of becoming the power hitter the team needed. Since his recall on May 7, Baty has been on an absolute tear and now slashing .290 with a .914 OPS and five homers. He has also provided 16 RBIs in 21 games. However, this is more than just data. It is about the thought process. That’s where Soto comes in.
“I’ve talked about this with him,” Baty said, highlighting their interaction. “He tries to be super direct and super quick to the ball and that is why he does that knob drill,” he added.
Credit: Luiggi Chavez/EyRNews
The knob drill is an old-school approach where Soto makes controlled contact with the knob of the bat instead of swinging fully, it might look simple. However, it highlights something deeper: intentionality, aim and trust in basics. These are the traits Baty is now emulating.
Baty’s bat speed tells the story — it is up to 76.2 mph from last year’s 73.5. He is not just hitting better; he is swinging smarter. This is how legends work. In MLB, not every day is perfect. However, what fans remember is how you bounce back. While Soto could have been struggling in silence, the influence he has had on his teammates speaks volumes.
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