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Juan Soto Makes Bold Prediction Ahead of Return to Yankee Stadium

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Eric W. Bolin | Last updated May 16, 2025 9:56 AM ET

Juan Soto has captured five Silver Sluggers. He's been an All-Star four times. He's finished top five in Most Valuable Player voting five times. All before the age of 26.

His most recent season was his best. Soto slashed .288/.419/.569 with 49 home runs and 109 RBI while finished third in American League MVP voting for the New York Yankees last year.

But Soto's decision not to re-sign with the Yankees drew some ire from fans. He's decision to sign with the cross-town rival New York Mets practically made him persona non grata.

Soto will return to the Yankee Stadium on Friday for the first time since inking a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets in the offseason as the team from the Bronx hosts the one from Queens.

The outfielder expects hostilities.

"It's going to be 50,000 against one. They're going to try to get on me, you know. It's part of it," Soto said to the New York Post. "Whatever they do, they have a right to do it."

Things haven't gone quite as well for Soto in blue, orange and white, though things are getting better. He's hitting .255 with eight home runs and 20 RBI for the season, but he's 13 for his last 45 over the last two weeks. His play has been worth 1.7 bWAR for the Mets thus far, putting him on pace for a 6.4 mark by the end of the year. That's a whole run below last year's output with the Yankees.

The Mets and Yankees find themselves in similar situations almost 50 games into the season. The Mets enter Friday's opener with at 28-16, leading the National League East by 2 1/2 games over the Philadelphia Phillies. The Yankees are 25-18 with a three-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.

As for Soto, he told the New York Post he's excited for the atmosphere over the weekend.

"It's going to be good," he said. "We're going to have a good time."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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