After months full of hype and hypothesis about why he left the New York Yankees in free company, All-Star outfielder Juan Soto will make his official New York Mets debut throughout Thursday’s Opening Day matchup on the Houston Astros.
Soto supplied one large promise to Mets followers as spring coaching wrapped up.
“The very best is coming,” a assured Soto instructed Tim Healey of Newsday. “I’m in the course of my prime. I believe that’s one of many issues I instructed them, too. The very best is coming. We now have an extended strategy to go, however I really feel like the very best Juan Soto has to come back within the subsequent couple of years, so I need to be at a spot the place we are able to have a extremely good group surrounding me and attempt to get the very best out of it.”
Mets proprietor Steve Cohen clearly agrees, as he gave Soto a 15-year, $765M contract that would exceed $800M whole. Cohen’s religion is comprehensible contemplating Soto turned simply 26 years outdated this previous October, was the Yankees’ most dear participant final spring as captain Aaron Choose battled by way of a little bit of a droop and later propelled the Bronx Bombers to a World Collection berth with a dramatic American League Championship Collection residence run.
“I can’t even think about,” Soto stated about what he might be on the peak of his baseball powers. “I’m going to attempt to be the very best the following couple of years earlier than I begin getting old.”
Per ESPN stats, Soto completed the 2024 season fourth in MLB with 41 residence runs, tied for sixth with 109 RBI, second with 129 walks and third with a .989 OPS. Whereas many inside the baseball neighborhood view Soto as a generational expertise, questions beforehand emerged relating to his capacity to function a pacesetter for a workforce that already has an unnamed captain in shortstop Francisco Lindor.
“You’ve obtained to get to know the fellows and get to know the employees and the way issues work over right here,” Soto just lately stated about finally making his voice heard amongst his new teammates, as shared by Abbey Mastracco of the New York Every day Information. “You’re simply not going to come back in and be like, ‘Oh, I need issues finished this fashion.’ No, you’ve obtained to get used to what they’ve been doing and what has been working for them, and the way they’ve been profitable prior to now. So I believe it takes just a little bit — it takes some time — to sit down down and browse the mindsets and the workforce.”
As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Soto second among the many betting favorites at +550 odds to win the Nationwide League MVP Award for the upcoming marketing campaign. That very same outlet had the 2025 Mets at -250 odds to make the playoffs.
“Mets followers are going to get Juan Soto,” he added. “He’s pleased on daily basis. I’m going to attempt to have my finest smile on the market and attempt to play one of the simplest ways I can to present 100% on daily basis.”
