Juan Soto’s return to Yankee Stadium for the first time since leaving the New York Yankees in the offseason to sign with the New York Mets was one of the most anticipated series on the baseball schedule heading into the season. Viewers tuned in, helping provide favorable numbers for ESPN.
Juan Soto’s Return Helps ESPN Break Records
Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina noted on X that the Mets vs Yankees Subway Series finale on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball drew 2.5 million viewers. The game was ESPN’s most-watched Sunday night telecast in seven years.
The ratings power of Caitlin Clark continues to astonish.
Mets-Yankees on Sunday drew 2.5 million viewers. Most-watched Sunday Night Baseball game on ESPN since 2018.
Clark and the Fever on Saturday afternoon drew 2.7 million for their game, which was a 93-58 blowout.
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina)
On the other hand, critics also noted that the Saturday afternoon WNBA game featuring Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever vs. Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky drew 2.7 million viewers on the same family of networks despite the game not being close for extended stretches.
While some critics may try to use that stat to argue baseball just isn’t popular in the mainstream, the WNBA tipped off its latest season Thursday, and Clark is one of the biggest draws in sports. She was at the forefront as the league generated record ratings and attendance.
MLB’s ratings on ESPN became a major headline right before spring training when the network announced that they mutually agreed with MLB to opt out of the final three years of their television contract. ESPN will no longer televise games on the network after this season.
Both sides have expressed disappointment about the relationship ending at the end of the 2025 season. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred expressed disappointment in how the network marketed the sport over the last decade. The decline of ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball is often cited as a turning point.
ESPN wanted to prioritize digital platforms and streaming, noting that MLB isn’t popular enough to penetrate those markets. Critics even took aim at Angels outfielder Mike Trout, believing that he wasn’t the dynamic personality baseball needs to attract new viewers.
Despite all the negative attention, the data shows that baseball is on the rise. The recent World Series between the Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers was the most-watched in eight years. Over the last few years, fan attendance, international viewership, and social media engagement have also increased.
While MLB may not have the transcendent draw that Caitlin Clark has become for women’s basketball, the strong viewership for the Subway Series shows that baseball is still compelling, and people will watch significant storylines.