Juan Soto may be in his first season with the New York Mets, but he already carries the experience of a true MLB veteran. When he takes the field on June 7 against the Rockies, it will mark the 1,000th game of his professional career — a milestone that earns him entry into a remarkably exclusive club.
It’s worth noting that Soto played the majority of those 1,000 games with the Washington Nationals — 565 in total — where he first made his name between 2018 and 2022. With the Mets, he’s played just 63 games so far. Counting his time with the Yankees, he’s appeared in 220 games with New York teams.
Though the Mets’ season hasn’t started the way many had hoped, Soto has done everything he can to make this 1,000th game count. One of the things that makes this day particularly special is the offensive production he’s piled up across eight MLB seasons — including more than 200 career home runs.
So what milestone did Soto reach in Game 1,000?
According to stats compiled by Sarah Langs, Soto now joins Ted Williams and Frank Thomas as the only players in MLB history to record 200 or more home runs and 800 or more walks through their first 1,000 games.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 01: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets reacts at home plate after his sixth inning home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field on May 01, 2025 in New York City. The blast was Soto’s first home run at Citi Field as a member of the Mets. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
“With 212 HR and 820 BB, Soto joins Ted Williams (220 HR, 908 BB) and Frank Thomas (238, 829) as the only players in MLB history with 200+ homers and 800+ walks at the time of their 1,000th games,” Langs wrote on X.
Most games played in a season
Soto set a personal best in 2023, playing in all 162 games — something he hasn’t repeated since leaving the Padres. He came close during his stint with the Yankees, appearing in 157 games. That same season, he also posted a career-high 128 runs scored, the most he’s tallied in any single year.
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