The New York Mets have gotten off to a strong start this season, but they have concerns surrounding their prized offseason signing, Juan Soto. He has gotten off to a slow start this season, and many people around the Mets are concerned about his body language. He does not seem to be having as much fun on the field as we have seen in the past.
We have not seen the patented “Soto Shuffle,” and he seems to be playing with a lack of hustle. The concerns are real, and the pressure of playing under his massive contract may be getting to his head.
Soto Brings Unwanted Attention Upon Himself
If Soto were just off to a slow start at the plate, you could say it is an early-season slump as he tries to get used to his new surroundings. But all of the other factors he is bringing upon himself concern people. Ken Rosenthal joined Foul Territory to discuss Soto, saying, “As for running hard, it’s just a bad look…It just brings attention to himself that he doesn’t need.”
"It just brings attention to himself that he doesn't need."@Ken_Rosenthal says Juan Soto has to be ready for added scrutiny given the money he's making and the market he's playing in. pic.twitter.com/WPZEriJOQg
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV)
Rosenthal mentioned that playing in New York with the harsh media does not help Soto. Any small struggle, and he will see it on the front page of the newspaper. Still, Soto played for the Yankees last season and did not have any of these issues. Instead, he had the most productive season of his career.
One spot where Soto has struggled the most is with runners in scoring position. That is where he has thrived during his career, but not this season. He is batting .128 with runners in scoring position, which has significantly hindered the Mets. Soto is too good a player to struggle much longer; you can assume he will return to his career averages soon. Yet, he can immediately fix the little things, like hustling and playing with a positive attitude.
Juan Soto, Runners In Scoring Position:
2024 —> .345 AVG / .470 OBP / .672 SLG
2025 —> .128 AVG / .234 OBP / .231 SLG— Codify (@CodifyBaseball)
Mets Have World Series Expectations
The Mets began the season as the best team in baseball, but they have since hit a road bump and are now out of the top spot in the NL East. They have lost four of their last five games because their bats have gone cold. They have scored 10 runs over the past six games, which will never be a winning formula.
If the Mets want to be serious World Series contenders, they will need more from their offense, with Soto being the most notable. If they continue to struggle, do not be surprised if we see the Mets front office make a move to bolster their roster before the trade deadline.