When Juan Soto arrived in Queens, the hope was that he’d ignite the Mets’ offense and bring some serious electricity to Citi Field. And while he’s definitely been solid in the early weeks of the 2025 season, the extraordinary numbers fans were dreaming about haven’t quite shown up—at least not yet.
Mike Francesa Says New Role For Juan Soto Brings Bigger Pressure
Now, legendary sports radio talk show host Mike Francesa is weighing in. On his latest podcast, on Monday, Francesa suggested that the new role for Juan Soto as the face of the Mets might be part of what’s slowing him down a bit.
"There are things he has to undertake and feel responsible for that he did not have to do with the Yankees"@MikeFrancesa discusses whether or not Juan Soto feeling the pressure with the New York Mets has affected his start to the season ⚾ pic.twitter.com/4cMZKzGhbD
— The Mike Francesa Podcast (@FrancesaPodcast) April 14, 2025
“There are things he has to undertake and feel responsible for that he (Juan Soto) did not have to do with the (New York) Yankees,” Francesa said, pointing out that things were a little easier last season with the Yankees.
“He serves a different role here. Here, okay, in the (New York) Mets motion picture, he is the leading man. His name’s above the title. It wasn’t the case with the Yankees, he shared top billing. And actually, his billing was number two,” he added.
Back then, Soto had Aaron Judge hitting behind him in the lineup, which meant pitchers had to go right at him. This year, with Soto as the focal point of the Mets’ offense, pitchers are being a lot more careful—fewer strikes, more dancing around the zone. That kind of approach can definitely mess with a hitter’s power numbers and overall production.
“It was a perfect seamless fit inside that pinstripe. Okay, he was very comfortable there, very comfortable in that role, very comfortable in that lineup, very comfortable in that one-two position with (Aaron) Judge, which made them the best one-two punch in baseball. Very comfortable at Yankee Stadium, very comfortable with everything that it offered,” the iconic radio host emphasized.
Francesa also touched on the off-the-field stuff. Being the new superstar in town comes with more media attention, more leadership duties in the clubhouse, and the pressure of living up to a massive $765 million contract while also drawing the crowd.
“He decided to take the biggest contract and go across the street, but it meant different responsibilities. Now his name’s above the title,” he said. “He’s responsible for everything including team performance, including even what the attendance does. Every part of this is something he’s got his hand in now.”
“That’s what happens when you are the leading man. And when you take on the role of being the leading man and he did that. Does that suit his personality? We’ll see. Does it put pressure on him? Absolutely,” the 71-year-old said.
Even with the so-called “slow” start—just one home run and six RBIs through his first 16 games—Soto’s underlying numbers are still strong. He’s getting on base at over a .400 clip, drawing plenty of walks, and helping set the table for teammates like Pete Alonso, who’s been on fire to start the season.
Just having Soto in the lineup changes how opposing teams approach the Mets, even if he’s not hitting bombs yet.
The Mets are off to a strong 11-5 start, and fans will definitely be keeping a close eye on Soto—not just for what he does with the bat, but how he handles the spotlight that comes with being the face of the franchise. It won’t be long before the numbers start to match the hype—and everyone starts counting Soto as an MVP contender.