New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza came to the defense of outfielder Juan Soto on Tuesday, just a day after indicating he would speak with the star about concerns over his perceived lack of hustle.
“He’s human. He’s 26, man,” Mendoza told reporters before the Mets’ loss to the Boston Red Sox. “He’s going to be fine. He’s Juan Soto.”
Soto, who signed the richest contract in MLB history this past offseason — a reported $765 million deal — has faced scrutiny over both his effort and production. While most players would be thrilled with his current line of .247/.379/.437 (134 OPS+) with eight home runs and more walks than strikeouts, the numbers fall short of his career norms and would mark the least productive season of his career.
Mendoza pointed to the adjustment period that comes with a new team and massive expectations.
“I think he’s comfortable, but everything is new — not only a new team, but just the new contract, the expectations,” Mendoza said. “He’s always been on winning teams and won a World Series. But this is new territory for him. That’s our job as an organization — to continue to help him.”
CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa recently outlined three red flags in Soto’s performance this year: a drop in bat speed, a lower percentage of pulled fly balls, and a corresponding dip in slugging. Still, this isn’t the first time Soto has started slow. In 2023, he slashed just .183/.345/.344 early in the season before catching fire and finishing with a dominant .293/.423/.554 line, along with 31 home runs and 100 RBIs.
Given that history, Mendoza and the Mets remain confident Soto will turn things around. Team owner Steve Cohen echoed that sentiment on Tuesday, tweeting:
“Welcome to the ups and downs of a baseball season. This too will pass. LGM.”
The Mets are currently 29-20 and sit in second place in the National League East.