Mark your calendars – May 16 is shaping up to be a must-watch showdown in the rejuvenated Subway Series.
That’s the day when Mets superstar Juan Soto will step onto the field at Yankee Stadium for the first time since leaving the Bronx for Queens in free agency.
Given the way his departure unfolded, he’s not expecting a warm welcome from Yankees fans.
“You know Yankees fans, they can surprise you with anything. So I’m expecting the worst,” Soto said.
Soto already got a preview of the Bronx crowd’s reaction during the Mets-Yankees spring training game at Clover Park in Florida.
As his name was announced, a noticeable wave of boos rained down – a teaser of what’s likely coming when he returns to Yankee Stadium in May.
The Yankees landed Soto in December 2024, acquiring him from the San Diego Padres in a blockbuster seven-player trade.
From the moment he arrived in the Bronx, Soto made it clear he intended to test free agency after the season, a stance that never wavered – even as Yankees GM Brian Cashman and Aaron Judge hoped a deep playoff run could convince him to stay.
And Soto delivered…
Batting ahead of Judge, he posted the best season of his career, finished third in AL MVP voting, and helped power the Yankees to their first American League pennant since 2009.
But after coming up short in the World Series against the Dodgers, Soto wasted no time shifting his focus to the open market.
Despite interest from the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Blue Jays, Soto shocked the baseball world by jumping ship to the Mets – signing a record-setting $765 million contract with their crosstown rivals.
Of course, it wasn’t just Soto’s exit that stung Yankees fans – it was what he said after signing in Queens when he claimed New York was a “Mets town.”
Soto also claimed the reason why he picked the Mets over the Yankees was because he was so impressed with the Mets’ farm system. (Come on.)
He did make sure to shout out the loyal Yankees fans who had his back during the entire 2024 season.
“I can’t complain about Yankee fans. They were amazing, day in, day out, the whole season last year,” he said. “And I really appreciate not only Yankees fans but the Dominican community. They were showing off and I was really happy for that.”
Sure, some will applaud him for his contributions last season. But when Soto steps up to the plate in the Bronx on May 16, it’s safe to assume that the boos will drown out the cheers in emphatic fashion.
What are your thoughts on Soto choosing the Mets over the Yankees?
Will he end up regretting it???
