As has often been the story this season, Juan Soto played a relatively quiet role in the Mets’ 4-3 win over the Phillies on Wednesday. The superstar outfielder went 1-for-4 with a walk but didn’t notch a run or an RBI.
Now batting .233 with a .364 OBP and .389 slugging, Soto has three home runs and 12 RBIs on the season—numbers that fall short of expectations, especially following his record-shattering 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets this past offseason.
Interestingly, Soto turned down a 16-year, $750 million offer from the Yankees after reaching the World Series with them last year, choosing instead to take slightly more money—and a different legacy path—with their crosstown rivals.
After the game, Soto acknowledged his offensive struggles in a postgame interview with SNY.
“I’m doing everything I can to deliver at the plate, but when that’s not happening, I know I have to contribute in other ways,” Soto said. “Whether it’s playing defense or running the bases, I try to make an impact. Today, I was able to help the team with my glove.”
Last season, Soto posted an impressive .288/.419/.569 slash line, hitting a career-high 41 home runs and driving in 109 runs.
The four-time All-Star is batting just .219 in April and has recorded multiple hits in only four of his 26 games so far. He has yet to notch a three-hit performance since joining the Mets. Still, New York boasts the best record in baseball at 18-7 and leads the NL East by five games over the 13-12 Phillies.
Next up, the Mets hit the road for a four-game series against the Washington Nationals, followed by a three-game homestand against the Arizona Diamondbacks. After that, they’ll head to St. Louis to take on the Cardinals.