Juan Soto’s Unexpected Comeback to Hustle Critics Sparks Heated Debate After Green Monster Blast
You can’t imagine the last thing Juan Soto wanted after Sunday’s Mets-Yankees game was to be grilled by the New York press about hustle, or rather the glaring lack of it. Picture this: the game knotted up at 2-2 in the eighth inning, the stadium buzzing…and then Soto, the Mets’ big bat, slows up on what should have been a routine ground-ball single, ultimately ending in an out. Ouch. To make matters worse? It happened in an 8-2 drubbing at the hands of their fiercest rivals, the Yankees.
But wait, the saga didn’t stop there. Fast forward to Monday night, the Mets trailing the Red Sox 3-1 in Fenway Park, Soto laces a deep shot to left field against Justin Wilson. Initially thinking it was a homer, he leisurely jogged the bases only to realize the Green Monster had other plans — turning potential fireworks into a mere single. By the time he figured it out, extra bases were gone with the wind. Sure, Soto redeemed himself a bit by swiping second base, but Boston held on for a clutch victory nonetheless.
When pressed postgame about his “slow getting out of the box,” Soto shrugged it off, insisting he’s been putting in the effort. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza didn’t jump down his star player’s throat either, but made it clear there’d be a conversation — especially considering the gargantuan 15-year, $765 million contract Soto inked last December, the biggest in sports history. The expectation for hustle? Sky-high.
It’s early only 47 games into his Mets tenure, and yeah, Soto’s numbers—.246/.379/.443 before Monday’s game—haven’t quite lived up to that superstar shine yet. But if anyone’s seen Juan Soto’s track record, patience is the name of the game. The Mets are sitting pretty at 29-19, and Soto will find his groove. That said, plays like these certainly aren’t how you win over the famously discerning Mets faithful.
LEARN MOREThese are not the questions Juan Soto wants to face from New York media.
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