Juan Soto’s slow start with the New York Mets is raising red flags, and Wednesday night’s 5-1 win over the Boston Red Sox did little to ease concerns about the $765 million man. Through 49 games, Soto’s slashing .243/.374/.429 with 8 homers and 21 RBIs, a far cry from his 2024 numbers with the Yankees (.288/.419/.569, 41 homers, 109 RBIs over 157 games). His latest outing at Fenway was rough—0-for-3 with three strikeouts and a walk, though he managed a sacrifice fly in the seventh to plate Luisangel Acuna. For a guy signed to a 15-year deal to be the cornerstone of a World Series push, these numbers are troubling, and the Mets are feeling the heat.
Manager Carlos Mendoza tried to spark the offense by shuffling the lineup, moving Soto from second to third, with Starling Marte hitting second and Pete Alonso in the cleanup spot. “There’s a good chance I’ll keep those guys at three and four,” Mendoza told the New York Daily News before the game. But Soto’s performance against Boston—whiffing twice without swinging and then chasing an 86 mph sweeper from Garrett Crochet—suggests the tweak isn’t working yet. The Mets still pulled out the win, thanks to Alonso’s .301 average and 9 homers, plus Francisco Lindor’s steady glove, pushing New York to 30-20, just 1.5 games behind the Phillies in the NL East. Yet, Soto’s struggles overshadowed the victory.
Off the field, the vibes are even shakier. A Monday report from NJ Advance Media’s Bob Klapisch noted the Mets’ front office is concerned about Soto’s “lack of enthusiasm” for the team, pointing to his demeanor during a lackluster Subway Series (1-for-10, four walks) and moments like dodging an ESPN mic-up and skipping postgame media. Klapisch even mentioned Soto’s added weight, hinting at a dip in his trademark swagger. While teammate Starling Marte has helped Soto adjust to the Mets’ looser clubhouse, per SNY’s Andy Martino, the 26-year-old’s adjustment to Queens after a World Series run with the Yankees seems rocky.
Soto’s not a lost cause—his .374 OBP shows he’s still getting on base, and his 39 walks rank among the league’s best. But for a guy expected to be a game-changer, striking out 37 times in 177 at-bats and going 1-for-20 with runners in scoring position is a glaring issue. The Mets need the Soto who terrorized pitchers in 2024, not the one looking lost against Crochet’s breaking ball. With the Phillies, Braves, and Dodgers looming as playoff threats, New York can’t afford an offensive liability in the heart of the order.
Picture Soto digging in at Citi Field, rediscovering that signature shuffle, and launching a homer to ignite the crowd. That’s what the Mets paid for. Mendoza might need to rethink the lineup—maybe slotting Lindor or Marte higher—or get Soto extra cage time to find his rhythm. The season’s young, and at 30-20, the Mets are in the hunt, but Soto’s got to shake this funk fast. A third World Series isn’t coming if their biggest investment’s stuck in neutral. For his full stats, check the card above.
