Juan Soto’s Era With the Mets Starts in the Best Way
The Dominican star outfielder Juan Soto started his journey with the Mets on the right foot, smashing a home run in his first at-bat as a member of the New York team this Saturday during MLB Spring Training.
A Dream Debut in the Cactus League
Soto made his Spring Training debut with the Mets against a split-squad of the Houston Astros and, in his first plate appearance in the first inning, launched a towering homer off a pitch from left-hander Colton Gordon. The ball cleared the fence between center and left field at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the Spring Training home of the New York squad.
According to MLB data, Soto’s home run traveled 462 feet and left the bat at 106.2 mph, giving the Mets an early 1-0 lead over the Astros.
Soto, who signed a record-breaking $765 million contract to join the Mets for 15 seasons, had a second at-bat in the second inning, hitting a grounder for a force out at second base. However, the play allowed Venezuelan José Azócar to score the second run driven in by the Dominican star.
Nicknamed “La Fiera,” Soto batted second in the lineup, right behind Puerto Rican Francisco Lindor, just as Mets manager Carlos Mendoza had planned. Mendoza, a Venezuelan, had previously stated that he wanted to pair them at the top of the order. Batting third was first baseman Pete Alonso.
Playing as the starting right fielder, Soto exited the game after three innings and was replaced by fellow Dominican outfielder Alex Ramírez, who is looking to secure a spot during Spring Training with the Mets.
Alongside Soto, right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes also made his Spring Training debut with the Mets. Holmes started the game for the New York team, pitching three hitless and scoreless innings, allowing no walks and striking out three batters.
The Mets, who reached the National League Championship Series last season before being eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers, are betting big on Soto, who played in the World Series last year with the New York Yankees, to help lead them to an MLB championship.
