The New York Mets have been winning games without Juan Soto, but he's close to getting back in the lineup.
New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto has vowed to return before the end of the season, and he’s started taking live batting practice to reach his goal, according to a report from Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
Soto also ran the bases and played catch without any problems, and he’s been spotted running in the outfield recently before several games. He’s also making quick turns while rounding each base, per Ladson, which is a critical move when it comes to keeping his injured left calf healthy in real games.
The injury has hampered Soto all season long, first in April when he did a brief stint on the IL, and during this longer stint as he hasn’t played in a live game since Aug. 24, per the writer.
“I put in the work. I feel I’m in a good spot,” Soto said. “We are trying to test [the calf] and see how it feels. Definitely, we are at the point we have to see how it reacts the next day. But I feel good.”
Soto declined to give a target date, but there’s certainly no reason to push him. The Mets are playing out a lost season, and while they have been playing well since the trade deadline, they have nothing to play for other than possibly getting out of the NL East basement as they try to pass the woeful Washington Nationals.
The outfielder wants to be part of that, though, and the Mets could certainly use his bat. The Mets are 13-6 since the Aug. 3 trade deadline, according to Ladson, and Soto has been impressed by the new look bullpen as they shipped nearly everyone from the old one out of town in a major sell-off.
“[As far as the bullpen goes], we gave up really good pieces," Soto said. "Now getting these guys from the Minor Leagues, they are shoving day in and day out. I think that is the most impressive thing.”
This won’t be Soto’s best statistical season by a long shot due to the injuries, but he has been productive when he’s played. His slash .283/.408/.539 with 21 home runs and 52 RBIs in 84 games this season, and the Mets are 40-44 when he’s played.
Soto has long had a reputation for durability, as he’s played at least 150 games in every full season since 2019, but this season has been the noteworthy exception to that rule.
