Is Juan Soto hustling? Mets star, Carlos Mendoza address effort out of batter's box

USA Today

20-05-2025

Is Juan Soto hustling? Mets star, Carlos Mendoza address effort out of batter's box
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NY Mets: See Juan Soto reaction to boos in first-bat vs. Yankees
Mets outfielder Juan Soto tipped his cap to a hostile reaction as he stepped to the plate against the Yankees on May 16, 2025, at Yankee Stadium.
BOSTON — As the baseball sailed deep to left field, Juan Soto took two steps backward out of the batter's box to appreciate the flight.
The only problem? The ball bounced about halfway up the Green Monster at Fenway Park. Soto, who initially delayed, did not have time to recover and settled for a single in the sixth inning, with the Mets trailing the Red Sox, 3-1.
"I hit it pretty hard, a really short Green Monster, but tried to get to second but it wasn't enough," Soto said.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said he will address Soto's baserunning after Monday night's misjudgment on the ball, which traveled an estimated 347 feet, according to Statcast.
"We'll talk to him about it. Tonight, obviously someone gets a hold of one and if he knows when he gets it, it's Juan," Mendoza said. "He thought he had it. But with the wind and all that, and in this ballpark and anywhere, but in particular in this one with that wall right there, you gotta get out of the box. We'll discuss that."
It was the second consecutive night in which Soto's hustle was called into question. The Mets outfielder was slow out of the batter's box after hitting a sharp ground ball to the right side of the infield in the eighth inning of Sunday's 8-2 loss to the Yankees. DJ LeMahieu made a sliding play on the ball, which he knocked down but did not glove cleanly. As Soto broke into a full sprint, it was too late and he was thrown out at first base.
Soto, who stole second after Monday's long single, did not see any issue with his baserunning.
"I think I've been hustling pretty hard," Soto said. "If you saw it today, you could tell."
The 26-year-old, who signed a record 15-year, $765 million deal in the offseason, finished Monday night 1-for-4. His batting average is lingering at .246. He grounded into his ninth double play of the season in the top of the third inning.
The Mets superstar, who is coming off a rough return to the Bronx, is enduring another rocky stretch. In his last eight games, Soto has four hits in 29 at-bats, scoring three times, walking seven and striking out eight times. On the season, Soto has a .376 on-base percentage and .815 OPS.