It’s no secret that Juan Soto has stumbled out of the gate in his first season with the Mets. His early struggles at the plate have become a talking point across the league, raising questions and sparking concern among fans and analysts alike. However, while the spotlight may be bright on Soto right now, it will be a mistake to treat this rocky start as the defining chapter of his tenure in New York.
Two tough months shouldn’t serve as the full yardstick of a player like Soto. He is a generational talent with a proven track record. And he can look for reassurance or perspective in the Mets’ camp only. One of his teammates, Francisco Lindor, knows exactly what Soto is going through.
Remember, Lindor’s early days in Queens were marked by similar scrutiny, frustration, and pressure. But just as he eventually found his footing, there’s every reason to believe Soto can, too.
Now, with the benefit of experience and understanding, Lindor, who signed a 10-year, $341M contract extension with the Mets in 2021, has opened up, offering insight into Soto’s situation and shedding light on whether there’s any deeper disconnect between the slugger and the organization. His perspective may just be the grounding force Mets fans need as they ride out the early turbulence of the Soto era.
“In the grand scheme of things, people have tendencies to look at a long-term contract in a one-year span,” Lindor said this week. “But it’s a long-term contract. It’s going to play out. He’s going to be one of the greatest Mets to play in this organization. To play 15 years here, he’s going to throw up some crazy numbers.“
So, are there no issues in the team regarding Soto’s rough patch? Well, doesn’t seem like it. And rightly so, because Soto is in the team for a long 15 years and not for a few months. Per Lindor, the team knows what Soto can do, and it is just about time he bounces back.
A few months of a rough patch are nothing but negligible. The same route Lindor took in his initial days with the Mets. For starters, he arrived in New York in 2021. And, same as Soto now, he carried the weight of a massive contract, the biggest in the Mets history at the time.
Much like Soto, Lindor was expected to deliver instant results and live up to the franchise’s lofty expectations. But his first season in Queens didn’t go according to script.
A career .285/.346/.488 hitter heading into that year, Lindor struggled mightily out of the gate. Sounds similar to Soto? Yes, so if Lindor can make a comeback from there, Soto also has enough time to make a splash.
Juan Soto is too big a name to write off
After signing a jaw-dropping 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets, expectations from Soto were sky-high. But through his first 49 games, the 25-year-old outfielder is slashing .243/.374/.429 with eight home runs and 21 RBIs.
These are decent numbers by most standards, but underwhelming for a player of his stature and price tag. Is it a career slump, though? Well, no. Soto is still doing fairly well on the field.
Let’s get back to 2022, when Soto was traded from the Nationals to the Padres. Remember how he endured a noticeable dip in performance?
For the unversed, in his initial few games with the Padres, Soto slashed just .236/.388/.390. That’s below his usual standards, especially in slugging percentage. But despite those struggles, he rebounded in 2023 with a strong season, slashing .275/.410/.519 with 35 home runs and 109 RBIs.
Moreover, that year, he led the league in walks and was one of the most productive hitters in the NL! So, Soto might just be adjusting to the new clubhouse, and a great comeback might just be around the corner.
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