Juan Soto finds himself in the spotlight this season with the New York Mets after signing a record-breaking contract in the offseason. However, the early returns have left fans and analysts scratching their heads, as Soto is currently batting .250 with just two home runs to his name.
In a recent conversation with The New York Post, Soto reflected on his struggles and compared his current situation to last year when Aaron Judge was batting behind him with the Yankees. “It’s definitely different. I had the best hitter in baseball hitting [Judge] behind me last season. I was getting more attacked and more pitches in the strike zone. I was pitched different last year,” he explained.
While Soto’s perspective isn’t without merit, the truth is he hasn’t been swinging the bat as effectively as we’ve come to expect from him. It’s true he’s seeing varied pitch selections from opposing pitchers. Perhaps they’re being more cautious, but are they avoiding him entirely? That’s up for debate.
What can’t be debated, however, is that Pete Alonso, batting behind Soto, is making a loud statement of his own. The Mets’ first baseman is off to an explosive start, boasting a .345 batting average, four home runs, and a whopping 19 RBIs. With a potent bat like Alonso’s right behind him, Soto faces a unique challenge to break out of his current rut.
The Mets brought Soto into the fold with the hopes that he’d be a game-changer and a key ingredient in their quest for a World Series title. At this stage, those hopes seem a bit lofty given Soto’s underwhelming performance thus far. However, it’s still very early in the season, and there’s ample time for Soto to find his rhythm at the plate.
New York has begun the season with an impressive 11-5 record, showcasing resilience and talent on both sides of the ball. With the season stretching ahead, fans should remain optimistic that Juan Soto will soon rediscover his offensive prowess. All eyes will be on him as he aims to show why he is one of the most feared hitters in the game when he gets back on track.
