Juan Soto is feeling more at ease and seeing an uptick in his offensive performance in Queens.
He sent a home run soaring over the center field wall at Citi Field during the fifth inning, contributing to a 5-0 win against the Nationals. This marked his sixth homer in 11 games, supporting pitcher David Peterson.
Soto’s batting average has skyrocketed to .382 in June, a significant rise from the .231 he posted during his initial two months with the team. His OPS is a robust 1.336 over 47 plate appearances.
“It takes time,” Soto mentioned, opting not to speak to reporters afterward. “I’m still up and down, but that’s part of it.”
He added, “It’s still a process, and you have to keep going. The past few weeks have definitely made me feel more confident.”
Before the game, Soto expressed that veterans like Starling Marte have been instrumental in helping him acclimate to his new surroundings.
“Marté is a veteran player, a great teammate, and an awesome guy,” Soto said. “He’s someone I’ve talked to a lot, maybe the most. He’s shown me the ropes with the Mets and how to stay calm, which really matters to me.”
Soto didn’t disclose specific advice but acknowledged that Marte helped him settle into the clubhouse.
Marte’s playing time was affected by Soto’s arrival, and he sat out Wednesday’s game. However, they were spotted smiling together in the dugout after Washington starter Jake Irvin allowed a two-run homer in the third inning.
The four-time All-Star added a single in the seventh, marking his fourth multi-hit game in his last five outings.
Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who hit two solo home runs in the victory, spoke about expecting offensive improvements as the weather warms up in New York.
“Things are heating up and Soto’s numbers reflect that,” Nimmo noted. “Citi Field isn’t an easy place to hit in during April and May. It’s only when June, July, and August arrive that we see the stadium scoring well.”
“But we hit well today and the warm weather is playing in our favor. Soto is still being patient but is now capitalizing when he gets good pitches to hit.”
