Star outfielder Juan Soto hit a pair of home runs in a recreation for the second time since Might 1 as he helped the New York Mets notch a 7-1 win on the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
Following the victory, Soto credited supervisor Carlos Mendoza for what Mendoza has supplied the slugger amid his transition to the Mets and his early-season struggles on the plate.
“I have been feeling, , actually comfy. It is not simple in any respect,” Soto defined, as shared by Bob Nightengale of USA In the present day. “, while you come to a crew for the primary time, it is at all times going to take you just a little bit to settle in, however Mendoza has been serving to massive time.”
Skipper Craig Counsell was routinely linked with the Mets following the 2023 season, however he reset the marketplace for managers at the moment when he signed a record-setting five-year, $40M contract with the Chicago Cubs. Thus, many Mets followers felt that fall that the membership “settled” by hiring Mendoza, who had by no means earlier than served as a supervisor on the highest stage.
The 2024 Mets ended Might 29 at 22-33, however Mendoza in the end guided the membership to a playoff berth and to the Nationwide League Championship Sequence. He finished third in NL Supervisor of the Yr Award voting for final season.
As for Soto, a lot has been made this spring about whether or not or not he’s been pressing on the dish after he signed a 15-year, $765M contract that would exceed $800M to hitch the Mets this previous offseason. For what it is value, Baseball Reference exhibits that he hit .346 with 4 house runs, 5 RBI, six walks and a 1.339 OPS over his first seven video games of Might.
It appears like he feels he is on the verge of a real breakout on the plate.
“I have been seeing the ball nicely, simply making an attempt to make onerous contact all over the place I am going,” Soto instructed SNY’s Steve Gelbs (h/t Tom Hanslin) after Wednesday’s win. “Proper now, I really feel fairly good. What I have been engaged on goes the fitting method. We nonetheless have an extended solution to go, however I feel we’re going the identical method. Making an attempt to verify I be on time and make good selections on the plate.”
Soto hasn’t but lived as much as expectations since Opening Day, however the 24-14 Mets nonetheless entered Thursday atop the NL East standings. He’ll look to proceed to “make good selections on the plate” when the Amazins open a three-game house collection versus the Cubs on Friday night time.
