The New York Yankees just beat the New York Mets in the first Subway Series of the season. Yankees fans, still sore about losing Juan Soto to the Mets, probably breathed a little easier after that one.
Even though Soto hasn’t exactly been thriving in his first season with the Mets, CC Sabathia isn’t ready to write him off. Sabathia thinks players often need a year to get comfortable in Queens, and he points to Francisco Lindor as proof.
Let’s dig into how Soto’s doing, what Sabathia sees, and what all this might mean for both New York teams.
Juan Soto’s Struggles with the Mets
Since landing with the Mets, Juan Soto hasn’t quite met the sky-high expectations that came with his $765 million contract. Right now, he’s hitting .246 with an .810 OPS, 8 homers, and 20 RBIs.
Those numbers? Not exactly what the Mets or their fans were dreaming of when he signed. But honestly, moving to a new team—and a new city—can throw off even the best players.
Soto’s Current Statistics
- Batting Percentage: .246
- OPS: .810
- Home Runs: 8
- RBIs: 20
It’s easy to look at those stats and feel disappointed, but I wouldn’t rush to call them a sign of what’s to come. New York is a tough market, and history shows players sometimes need time to get their bearings.
CC Sabathia’s Perspective
CC Sabathia, the former Yankees ace, recently weighed in on Soto’s slow start and the weird trend of Mets newcomers struggling early. In a chat with New York Post Sports, Sabathia said it’s pretty common for big names to need a year before they click in Queens.
He brought up Lindor, who also stumbled at first but eventually figured it out.
Sabathia’s Observations
I mean, I just feel like the first year for guys going over to the Mets, they struggle. I feel like Lindor had the same thing until about August of last year, or the second half of last year, is when he kind of settled in as a Met, Sabathia said.
So I just think it takes a while.
When asked if it’s just a Mets thing, Sabathia sounded unsure. I feel like the stars that go to the Mets, it takes them like a year to kind of settle in. I don’t know why, he admitted. I don’t know why, but I feel like I’ve seen the same thing with Lindor, and now he’s the king of Queens. And so I think Soto can do the same thing.
The Future for Juan Soto and the Mets
Even though things look rough for Soto right now, there’s still a lot of hope about his future with the Mets. The team put a massive bet on him, and everyone’s crossing their fingers that it leads to something big.
The Yankees might be celebrating their Subway Series win, but if Soto finds his groove, the Mets could end up with the last laugh in New York baseball.
Long-Term Potential
Soto’s got the talent and the resume. It’s not crazy to think he’ll settle in and start playing like himself again.
Mets fans just have to hang in there, knowing that the first season’s often the roughest. If Soto can shake off the early jitters like Lindor did, he could turn into the superstar the Mets hoped for—and maybe even more.
For more on this story, check out the full article at Sports Illustrated.
Conclusion
The first year with a new team is never easy for a player. Juan Soto’s feeling that pressure, and honestly, who wouldn’t?
His numbers right now might not wow anyone, but let’s not forget—plenty of big names have stumbled out of the gate after joining the Mets. CC Sabathia has shared some thoughts on this, and I find his take refreshing. Patience, he says, and I have to agree.
As the season rolls on, the Mets and their fans are watching every move. Will Soto shake off the nerves and show why everyone was so excited in the first place? Guess we’ll see.
Keep checking back for more updates and deeper dives into stories from around baseball. If you haven’t already, maybe add Yankees On SI to your bookmarks for daily Yankees news, interviews, breakdowns, and whatever else pops up.
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