Mets’ Juan Soto Day-to-Day After MRI Reveals Minor Calf Strain

New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto is currently day-to-day due to a strained right calf, a condition that will be reassessed in the next 48 to 72 hours. This decision comes after Soto underwent an MRI on Saturday, which confirmed a mild calf strain that caught him off guard, as he reported feeling significantly better that morning.

Manager Carlos Mendoza shared with reporters that the team plans to wait until they return to Citi Field after their game against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday to determine Soto’s status. The Mets have a scheduled day off on Monday before embarking on a six-game homestand starting Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“Give it 48, 72 hours, see how he continues to progress,” Mendoza stated, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of calf injuries. “I was surprised when I saw him today the way he was moving around, but they’re tricky. We’ll wait, we’ll continue to call it day-by-day until we have to make a decision.”

The injury occurred during the first inning of Friday’s 10-3 victory over the Giants while Soto was running the bases. After hitting a single by Bo Bichette, Soto appeared to slow down as he rounded second base, receiving a stop signal from third-base coach Tim Leiper. He exited the game shortly after the inning concluded, with Tyrone Taylor taking over in left field.

Reflecting on his condition, Soto noted, “I’ve experienced calf tightness before. This is definitely not the worst I’ve felt. So I feel positive with that.” He drew parallels between this strain and a similar injury he suffered in 2022 while with the Washington Nationals, which also forced him to leave a game but allowed him to return the following day. Although Soto expressed that playing on Sunday was a possibility, Mendoza quickly ruled that out.

“We’re going to test it, definitely, with the trainers in the training room,” Soto explained. “I don’t think we’re going to run or anything like that, but we’re going to see how much strength I have and how much I can push off it.”

Soto has been a standout performer for the Mets this season, recording at least one hit in each of the team’s first eight games. He boasts an impressive batting line of .355/.412/.516, with two doubles, one home run, and five RBIs across 34 plate appearances.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.