Big Contract, Bigger Expectations: How the Mets Superstar Is Navigating a Challenging Start
Juan Soto’s arrival in Queens was one of the defining moments of the 2025 MLB offseason. The superstar outfielder left the Bronx and the Yankees behind to sign a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets. Soto, who burst onto the scene as a rookie with the Washington Nationals in 2018 and played a pivotal role in their 2019 World Series title run, has never shied away from the spotlight. Yet, his first two months in a Mets uniform have been marked by inconsistency and scrutiny, a far cry from the dominant force fans have come to expect.
Through his first 48 games in Queens, Soto has posted a .247 batting average, with eight home runs and 20 RBIs. While those numbers would be solid for most players, they fall below Soto’s lofty standards and his career averages. The past 15 games have been particularly challenging, as Soto has gone just 12-for-54 with three homers and six RBIs, a stretch that has amplified concerns about his early-season rhythm at the plate. Some of the struggles have played out in the public eye, including a recent game at Fenway Park where Soto, believing he had homered, admired his deep fly ball, only to see it carom off the Green Monster, resulting in a single instead of extra bases. The moment drew criticism from the New York media and prompted Mets manager Carlos Mendoza to address the importance of hustle, though he stopped short of publicly admonishing his star outfielder. Despite the noise, Mendoza has voiced his unwavering confidence in Soto, stating, “He’s human. He’s 26, man. He’s going to be fine. He’s Juan Soto.”
Despite Soto’s uneven start, the Mets have thrived, sitting just a game out of first place in the NL East behind the Phillies with a 29-20 record and boasting the fifth-best run differential in baseball. Soto himself has acknowledged his slow start, attributing it to timing issues and expressing confidence that he’ll find his groove as the season progresses. History suggests that Soto is more than capable of carrying a team for weeks at a time, and his presence in the lineup has already had a positive impact on teammates like Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor. As the Mets set their sights on a deep postseason run and their first World Series appearance since 2015, all eyes will remain on Soto to see if he can recapture the form that made him one of baseball’s most feared hitters and live up to the monumental expectations that accompanied his arrival in Queens.
