New York Mets All-Star outfielder Juan Soto’s latest remark about former teammate, New York Yankees captain Aaron Choose, continues to hover over him amid his gradual offensive begin to the 2025 season.
Following the Mets’ 4-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor insisted that he and others inside the clubhouse weren’t bothered by Soto’s phrases.
“Soto is a superb group participant,” Lindor instructed Manny Gomez of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. “He worries about having good at-bats for the group. The reality is that no person took what he mentioned in any damaging means. He’s the most effective gamers within the sport, and all he desires to do is win video games. I really feel good that he’s in a position to specific himself in no matter means he desires. And, on the finish of the day, he didn’t say something improper or malicious. He mentioned what he was considering as a result of he desires to get higher.”
Soto was in the course of a 13-game house run drought when he admitted that taking part in for the Mets is “positively completely different” as a result of he beforehand “had the very best hitter in baseball hitting behind me” whereas with the Yankees. Some, reminiscent of longtime Yankees announcer Michael Kay, noticed Soto’s reward of Choose as “form of a backhanded slap at” Mets first baseman Pete Alonso.
Whereas ESPN stats present that Alonso leads the Mets in a number of offensive classes, Soto has left a lot to be desired together with his play after he signed a 15-year, $765M contract that might exceed $800M to hitch the membership this previous offseason. Throughout his first 19 video games of the marketing campaign, Soto hit .221 with three house runs, seven RBI and a .773 OPS.
Lindor is aware of what it is prefer to ink an enormous deal however then wrestle within the first half of a primary season with the Mets. As just lately as final spring, he heard boos throughout house video games amid a droop earlier than he and the remainder of the group acquired sizzling.
“Keep the course. Keep centered on what you’re doing,” Lindor mentioned relating to recommendation he has for Soto with the Mets at 12-7. “He’s somebody who involves the clubhouse and works laborious. He simply has to maintain doing what he’s doing, and finally, the outcomes will come. Followers will say good issues and dangerous issues. On the finish of the day, followers will find yourself appreciating and loving him.”
Per SNY’s Ben Krimmel, Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza additionally got here to Soto’s protection on Thursday by noting that the slugger is giving the membership “nice at-bats” regardless of the shortage of manufacturing.
“I simply need him to be himself, go on the market, have enjoyable and play the sport,” Mendoza added about Soto.
