Juan Soto is the most valuable player on the New York Mets’ roster—at least when it comes to salary—and he recently gave a glimpse of what his future with the team could look like. In his first at-bat, he launched a towering home run against the Houston Astros.
With one out in the bottom of the first inning and the game still scoreless, Soto took advantage of a hittable pitch from Colton Gordon. The Mets’ star slugger wasted no time showcasing the power he could bring to the team in the 2025 MLB season, which is just days away from starting.
It’s worth noting that in his lone season with the Yankees, Soto hit a career-high 41 home runs, surpassing his previous best of 35 in 2023 with the Padres. If he starts the regular season strong that could be a big plus for the Mets.
Another key highlight from Juan Soto’s most recent season in New York was his career-high 128 runs, which played a crucial role in helping the Yankees make a deep playoff run last year. This kind of production could certainly boost the Mets’ chances of reaching the playoffs again.
The Mets need more home runs
Last season, Pete Alonso led the Mets with 34 home runs, followed closely by Francisco Lindor with 33, both of whom had nearly 700 plate appearances. They were the only two Mets players to surpass 30 home runs. In contrast, the Yankees had Aaron Judge with 58 and Juan Soto as their top home run hitters.
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Soto joining the Mets at his prime
In 2024, Soto’s performance reached new heights as he joined the New York Yankees. He played 157 games with a career-high WAR of 7.9, 166 hits, 41 home runs, and an OPS of .989. His OBP was .419, and he had 129 walks, maintaining his exceptional plate discipline. Soto’s ability to consistently improve his power, on-base skills, and overall offensive contribution demonstrates his dedication to maintaining and enhancing his game.
