Juan Soto is finding his groove at the plate, and the results are electrifying. The star outfielder has ramped up his power game since joining the New York Mets, hitting six home runs in his last seven games and eight in his last twelve. His recent performance was on full display Wednesday night when he launched a first-inning solo homer, setting the tone for a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
“It’s not much of a difference — I keep thinking to do damage every time,” Soto shared after the game. Despite missing two games due to a fever, he has shown no signs of slowing down. “The difference is the result. Sometimes I get the result, sometimes I don’t. I feel good. I’ve been seeing the ball well. I’ve been swinging the bat well.”
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza praised Soto’s focus and talent, stating, “He’s locked in. He’s one of the best — if not the best — at what he does. It doesn’t matter if it’s a lefty or righty [pitcher]. We saw it on a breaking ball against a lefty. The compete, he’s just in the at-bat. The takes, the swings. He’s just a special player doing his thing.” Soto’s ability to make contact is evident, as he swings and misses just 21.5 percent of the time, notably above the league average.
However, there’s a hint of caution as Mendoza noted Soto still feels some wrist pain when he misses. “He gets a little scared when he swings and misses, but it goes away,” Mendoza explained. Soto has been diligent in his pre-game routines, taking numerous swings off the machine to keep his timing sharp. “You see him hitting off the machine here before the game and he’s taking a lot of swings. It’s just when he swings and misses that he feels it. And he takes his time. We’ve seen it the past few days, and then it goes away.”
With three of his twelve home runs this season coming in the first inning, Soto emphasized the importance of making an early impact. “Whoever punches first is always punching twice,” he said, underscoring his drive to contribute to the team’s success. As he continues to find his rhythm, Mets fans can expect more fireworks from Soto as he aims to help propel his team forward.
Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.
