BOSTON — Juan Soto’s Current Struggles Remain Unclear
It’s hard to say what happened with Juan Soto after his latest uninspiring performance, but his manager, Carlos Mendoza, is standing firm alongside him. Soto appeared to jog out of the batter’s box when he thought he had hit a home run towards the Green Monster, but ultimately, he only managed singles.
“As a manager, I need to keep coaching him, supporting him, and teaching him,” Mendoza stated prior to the Mets’ game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Before the game, Soto declined to comment, although he had described his effort the night before as “hustles very hard.” On Monday, he made a notable blunder by failing to sprint while running the bases on a ground ball. The play was complicated by a bobbled ball, and by the time Soto reacted, he was unable to beat the throw to first base.
Currently, Soto’s stats stand at .246/.376/.439 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs. While these figures might be decent for most players, there’s immense pressure on Soto due to his staggering $765 million contract.
“In many ways, their frustrations can drive them, especially talented players like him. He’s had a successful start to his career, and now he feels like he needs to do even more for the team,” Mendoza remarked. “He gets it, and it’s part of the conversation here. Players like him want coaching and challenges, which is what makes him special.”
Francisco Lindor, the de facto captain of the Mets, mentioned that Soto’s misunderstanding regarding the ball hitting the wall was something he, too, had experienced. He suggested that Soto’s situation didn’t warrant criticism.
“I thought it was a home run too. It’s a tough park to navigate,” Lindor said. “I think he’s addressing the situation well; it’s just that not every ball can leave the park, and people will talk,” he added, emphasizing that he believes Soto is in a good mindset.
Soto also faced fans at Yankee Stadium recently and was subjected to loud boos, contributing to the Mets’ challenging series against the Yankees, in which they lost two out of three games.
“When you sign a contract like his, the attention increases, and he is aware of that,” Mendoza noted. “He accepts that and it’s not new for him. He’s always been a superstar and seems to be adjusting well.”
Lindor also expressed confidence in Soto’s integration with the team. “To me, he’s still the same guy I trained with this spring. He’s quiet, dedicated, and puts in quality at-bats daily. We’re all navigating this adjustment together,” he said.
Mendoza indicated he has no concerns regarding Soto’s performance. “He seems to be in a good place,” Mendoza said. “There’s a lot of external noise, but he’s fine. He’s too good for this not to work out.”
