Juan Soto is having a better season with the Mets than you think

To listen to the narrative, outfielder Juan Soto has been a disaster for the New York Mets.

Bob Kaplish from NJ.com reported that there are questions regarding Soto's "enthusiasm" about playing for the Mets. His performance on Wednesday, when he had three awful strikeouts, only amplified those concerns.

However, Soto's performance this season has not been as bad as one may think. He had posted a .243/.374/.429 batting line with eight homers and nine doubles in 219 plate appearances entering Friday. Although that production is below Soto's expectations, he has walked 39 times with 37 strikeouts and has stolen six bases without being caught. His 131 OPS+ is still 31% better than the league average, and above players such as Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts.

Soto's performance this season is also skewed by his struggles in the first inning. He has posted a .156/.224/.178 batting line in 49 first-inning plate appearances, with one double and 14 strikeouts. Soto has also improved as the game has gone on, posting an impressive .318/.484/.614 batting line with three homers and four doubles in his 62 plate appearances between the seventh and ninth innings.

Slow starts in a new environment are not new with Soto. He initially struggled following his trade to San Diego, posting a .236/.388/.390 batting line in 228 plate appearances for the Padres in 2022, hitting six homers and eight doubles. Soto ultimately rebounded, putting together a typically strong season for the Padres in 2023 before being traded to the Yankees.

Soto has not performed to his usual level thus far in 2025, but that does not mean he has been unproductive in the Mets' lineup.