Juan Soto Reflects on All-Star Selection Amid Mets’ Challenges and Rising Rookies

Juan Soto, the sole representative of the Mets at this year’s All-Star break, found himself in the spotlight during media availability, fielding questions about everything from his excitement for the event to the struggles his team faced in the first half of the season. Despite the Mets’ disappointing performance, Soto has emerged as the team’s MVP and earned his first All-Star selection as a Met, even after missing some time earlier in the season due to a calf injury.

Returning to the All-Star stage after a one-year hiatus, Soto expressed his enthusiasm for being among the game’s elite. “It feels great to be a part of another All-Star [team],” he shared. “It’s always great to see so many good players, so many guys that have been putting in the work to be who they are right now. It’s really cool to see.” The event, held at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, provided Soto with the opportunity to reconnect with former teammates from the Washington Nationals, including Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, who now play for the Phillies.

Despite the rivalry, Soto spoke fondly of his past teammates, saying, “I haven’t shared a locker room with [Harper] in a long time and Schwarber, all those guys. I feel like we have such a great talent in that clubhouse, like you would love to be around them. I’m gonna try to pick their minds and see where they’re at.” When asked about the Home Run Derby, Soto opted for last year’s runner-up, Junior Caminero, rather than his former teammates competing as the hometown favorites.

While the All-Star festivities provided a welcome distraction, the conversation inevitably turned to the Mets’ struggles this summer. Soto defended his teammates and acknowledged the challenges they’ve faced. “I’ve been trying my best to win games, to help my team,” he said. “It’s definitely not easy, I know how hard my team is working and I appreciate that they come in day in and day out. They never stop, they keep grinding, they try to find a way every day so nothing else I can ask for.” He continued to express his disappointment over the team’s record, stating, “It feels like a little bit of failure so I gotta keep going, I gotta keep getting better and I gotta try harder.”

After a tough stretch that saw the Mets swept by the Boston Red Sox right before the All-Star break, Soto believes the time off will benefit the players. “I feel like everybody needs a couple days off after a tough stretch,” he remarked. “To get the days off and kinda like start over I think is gonna be good for the guys.”

Among the few bright spots for New York have been the breakout performances of rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing. Benge entered the season as the starting right fielder, while Ewing was called up in early May to bring energy to the team. Soto has enjoyed playing alongside them and witnessing their growth. “For me, I’ve just been having fun,” he said. “I always call myself the forever rookie. I always try to handle myself the right way, but definitely enjoy the moment, don’t try to be hard on anybody.” He emphasized his willingness to support the younger players, stating, “I’m always gonna be there for them, but at the end of the day I always feel like one of them, I always try to have fun.”

With the emergence of these rookie outfielders, the Mets seem to have found a reliable future for their outfield, complemented by a pitching staff featuring promising young talent. Soto remains optimistic about the team’s potential to turn things around. He encouraged fans who have endured a challenging season, saying, “Keep believing. We’re gonna turn things around. We have a lot of talent, we have a lot of players that can be elite so don’t give up on them, we’re gonna turn this back [around].”

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