Juan Soto, the New York Mets’ superstar outfielder, has found himself under the microscope lately. After a rough stretch against the Red Sox and Yankees, the Mets’ offense is sputtering, and a lot of eyes are on Soto’s baserunning—or lack of it.
This post digs into what’s been going on with Soto, what it means for the Mets, and shares some thoughts from manager Carlos Mendoza and Soto himself.
Juan Soto’s Recent Performance Woes
Soto’s always been a big deal for the Mets, but lately, things haven’t gone his way. Over the weekend, he managed just one hit in ten at-bats at Yankee Stadium, which really didn’t help the Mets’ struggling offense.
They dropped the series opener to Boston, 3-1. Again, people zeroed in on Soto’s baserunning.
Offensive Struggles
The Mets have only scored 10 runs in their last seven games. That’s just not going to cut it in this league.
Soto’s been especially quiet at the plate, and the team needs more from him—desperately, honestly.
Baserunning Issues
Now, about that baserunning. On Sunday against the Yankees, Soto didn’t sprint out of the box on a ground ball, and folks noticed.
Then in Boston, he led off the sixth with a deep fly to left. It looked like a homer, but the ball smacked off the Green Monster, and Soto only got a long single out of it.
He didn’t really hustle out of the box, and it was obvious. He ended up stranded.
Manager Carlos Mendoza’s Response
Manager Carlos Mendoza finally talked about Soto’s baserunning in public. He admitted that Soto thought he’d hit a homer and didn’t run hard.
Mendoza pointed out how important it is to hustle, especially at Fenway, where that big wall can turn homers into singles in a flash.
Public Comments
Mendoza told reporters, “We’ll talk to him about it. He thought he had it, in this ballpark with that wall right there, you gotta get out of the box. We’ll discuss that.”
It’s the first time Mendoza has really addressed this publicly, which says something about how much it’s bugging the team.
Soto’s Perspective
For his part, Soto doesn’t seem to think his baserunning is a problem. After the game, he said, “I think I’ve been hustling pretty hard. If you see it today, you could tell.”
He insists he’s giving effort, but honestly, the optics aren’t great.
Implications for the Mets
The Mets’ struggles, along with Soto’s issues, could spell trouble. When the offense is cold and baserunning is sloppy, it drags everyone down.
Team Morale
If a star like Soto isn’t performing, it hits the whole team’s mood. The Mets need everyone locked in if they’re going to compete.
Getting Soto to hustle every play might spark something for the whole squad.
Future Performance
Let’s be real: The Mets need Soto at his best. His bat and his energy matter a ton.
If he gets back to hustling and producing, the Mets’ chances of turning things around look a whole lot better.
Juan Soto’s recent performance has raised some eyebrows for the New York Mets. There have been a few baserunning issues, and honestly, it’s starting to get frustrating for fans and coaches alike.
The Mets are struggling offensively. Soto really needs to step up and show some leadership out there.
Manager Carlos Mendoza made the unusual move to address the issue publicly. That says a lot about how seriously the team views this problem.
If you want to dive deeper into the details, check out the full article here.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews