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It's no secret that New York Mets slugger Juan Soto is under a lot of pressure to perform for his new squad after signing the biggest contract (15 years and $765 million) in sports history over the offseason.
While Soto is still producing respectable stats to this point in the season, they aren't the MVP caliber numbers that are now expected of him. This has led to frustration from many within the Mets community and fan base.
However, rather than turning to boos, Mets fans decided to do the opposite during their team's April 18 game against the St. Louis Cardinals, giving Soto (who entered that game with a .221 average) a standing ovation when he came to the plate with a runner on third in the fifth inning.
And Soto rewarded this applause by delivering a single to right field, which tied the game at 2. This also marked the end of a 0-for-12 skid at the plate for the 26-year-old superstar.
Juan Soto rewards the @Mets faithful's standing ovation with a game-tying hit! pic.twitter.com/5pi73pR7KQ
— MLB (@MLB) April 19, 2025
Soto was asked about this standing ovation after his team's April 20 win over the Cardinals and sent a powerful message.
"It's a great feeling. It's a great feeling," Soto said of the ovation, per an X post from SNY. "When you have a fanbase supporting you when you're doing bad, when you're doing good, it's just great. I really appreciate what they did. I feel like they don't know how meaningful that is. It means a lot for the players when they do that, and it feels really special."
When asked whether he was surprised about it, he said, "100%. I was like, after my first at-bat I was like, 'Why are they getting up and cheering?' That's kinda exciting. And I really enjoyed it."
"I really appreciate what they did. I feel like they don't know how meaningful that is. It means a lot to the players when they do that."
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) April 20, 2025
Juan Soto was "100%" surprised when the Citi Field crowd gave him a standing ovation, but he says he deeply appreciated it pic.twitter.com/pluW6LTqXO
Soto clearly appreciates his fan base backing him up while he works through an uncharacteristic early-season slump.
More must-reads:
- Nationals suffer brutal blow with pitching prospect set to undergo Tommy John surgery
- Three-time All-Star placed on administrative leave amid MLB's betting investigation
- The 'MLB mascot names' quiz
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Red Sox Aren't Getting Standout Back Anytime Soon
The Boston Red Sox got some bad news in the infield. Rookie infielder Marcelo Mayer has gotten a lot of time at second base and third base. Since Alex Bregman returned, Mayer has gotten most of his action at second base while also filling in as the Red Sox worked Bregman back slowly. Unfortunately, he's on the Injured List, though, due to a wrist sprain. MassLive.com's Christopher Smith shared the lastest update on Mayer from Red Sox manager Alex Cora on Saturday noted that he's "not gonna play soon." "No new updates on Marcelo Mayer's wrist sprain, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said," Smith shared. "'Just waiting for results and see specialists and all that stuff,' Cora added. 'He's not gonna play soon. So have to make sure where we're at and what the course of action is going to be.'" Losing Mayer is tough. Defense has been a question mark for Boston once again this season but Mayer has helped in that area. With Mayer out, Ceddanne Rafaela is expected to get a lot of action at second base. That helps to alleviate the logjam in the outfield, but also removes arguably the best defensive center fielder in the game. Boston isn't at full strength and Cora noting he's "not gonna play soon" certainly doesn't sound positive. Before going down, Mayer was slashing .228/.272/.402 with four homers, 10 RBIs, and eight doubles. Will the Red Sox add another piece ahead of the trade deadline? It absolutely makes sense at this point.
Bears GM speaks out after superstar goes down with injury
Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson is expected to miss most of training camp due to a leg injury, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. Johnson was placed on the non-football injury list when veterans reported to Chicago for camp. He suffered the injury during offseason training, according to Bears general manager Ryan Poles. Johnson is coming off his second consecutive Pro Bowl and is headed into the second year of a four-year, $76M deal. He has dealt with a number of injuries over his career, playing no more than 15 games in a season over the first four years of his career. In 2024, he played a full season for the first time, starting all 17 games with a career-high 1,032 snaps. An extended absence into the regular season would force Chicago to find another starting cornerback among their veteran depth, but Poles said that the team is not “overly concerned” about a long-term injury. “We’ve got a lot of faith that he’s going to put in the time to rehab and be his full self when he comes back,” said Poles on Tuesday. 2023 fifth-rounder Terell Smith will likely step into a first-team role in Johnson’s absence. Chicago largely relied on a cornerback trio of Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon last year; Smith is the only remaining defensive back on the roster who played at least 150 snaps on the boundary for the Bears in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus. Offseason signings Nick McCloud and Tre Flowers may also see a bump in reps over the coming weeks as Johnson rehabs his leg with his eyes on returning for the Bears’ Week 1 opener against the Vikings.
Vikings Training Camp Notes: J.J. McCarthy has solid day, while Jonathan Greenard and UDFAs steal the show
The Minnesota Vikings are firmly entrenched in training camp right now, and Monday’s practice was the first where they put on the pads. How will players like J.J. McCarthy look now that it’s full physicality? Who stands out? What positions are the most competitive? Let’s break it down. Punt return battle The Vikings are going to have a lot of competition for the punt return job. I saw the following players field punts WR Myles Price WR Rondale Moore WR Tai Felton WR Silas Bolden WR Dontae Fleming Winning this job could be the deciding factor on one or two of these players making the 53-man roster. Dwight McGlothern season? One of the biggest question marks for this team comes at the cornerback position. After Byron Murphy Jr, many questions persist. Who is going to step up in a big way to make an impact? That player could be Dwight McGlothern. He looks much improved from last year’s training camp, including a fantastic rep where he got an interception on a comeback route covering Rondale Moore by staying insanely patient, and undercutting it. Dontae Fleming shows out When you are a depth wide receiver, there aren’t many opportunities to stand out. When they do come about, you need to jump on them, The Vikings did some one on ones before they transitioned into teams and we got a standout catch from UDFA wide receiver Dontae Fleming out of Tulane in both drills. Both catches were on deep balls, where he showed really nice separation and tracking to get both throws. With him being an option also as a punt returner, having some offensive prowess will only help his case. Max Brosmer makes play in limited reps The fourth quarterback doesn’t get a lot opportunities to throw the football. When you do, it’s best to make it count. While he did throw an interception, his last rep in team drills stands out. The pocket collapsed on him rather quickly, but Brosmer escaped through the pressure and fired a bullet to Myles Price on a deep crosser on the sidelines. It was his throw of the day and a very good one to end on. Jonathan Greenard wrecks the 2 minute drill To end practice, the Vikings did a two minute drill with the fist team and second team. It was an opportunity for McCarthy to wow the crowd. It didn’t happen, mainly due to the rush by Greenard. He was causing consistent havoc across the board. Greenard was doing his thing in getting off the ball extremely quick and forcing fast decisions. From my angle, I couldn’t tell him if he got any sacks, but he certainly forced the issue and at least one bad throw. J.J. McCarthy has solid day Consistency and growth are the keys for me this time of year. What does your process look like and how well do you perform? There wasn’t a lot to be upset about when it comes to McCarthy’s performance, but he only had one play that gave us a “wow” moment, when he hit Lucky Jackson in the cover-2 honey hole with a missile. Hitting that window unlocks a lot out of your offense. Zemaiah Vaughn looks the part The Vikings have a great history recently when it comes to UDFAs. The next one up looks to be the cornerback from Utah in Zemaiah Vaughn. He looks the part as a long, tall cornerback, but he moved incredibly well in and out of his breaks, including attacking at the catch point. He was firmly with the second team today, which puts him a leg up over others,
Steelers' Roman Wilson Making A Strong First Impression At Camp
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t wasted any time evaluating their newest talent as training camp heats up in Latrobe. With pads finally on and reps intensifying, one receiver is already turning heads. Wide receiver Roman Wilson is emerging as a name to watch not just because of his speed or hands, but because of how he’s showing up daily, both physically and mentally. The way Wilson has carried himself has drawn strong praise from those observing the camp up close. Recently, on 970 AM Fox Sports Pittsburgh, former Steelers secondary coach Tom Bradley and Gerry Dulac talked about the Steelers for an hour-long segment. Dulac started off with praise for the young wideout. “When you watch him today, he certainly plays the part well," Dulac said. "He's a guy that I think the Pittsburgh Steelers fans are gonna take a liking to in a hurry, just by the way he goes about his work. You can see why they drafted him just by the way he does things out there.” Dulac’s words offer more than just a surface-level compliment. The key here is how he emphasizes Wilson's work habits. This isn’t about raw talent, which Wilson certainly has, but rather how that talent translates into consistent, reliable effort. Wilson’s doing the small things right: route details, blocking effort, lining up properly. That’s what builds trust with coaches and earns respect from veterans. If there’s a common thread across the league, it’s that wide receivers often need time to adjust to the pro game, especially in Pittsburgh, where Mike Tomlin historically takes a measured approach with young talent, but Wilson’s effort is accelerating that timeline. The mindset is now translating to Saint Vincent College. Fans should take note not just of highlight plays but of how Wilson moves during install periods and drills. That exact attitude also stood out to the former Steelers secondary coach, Bradley, who focused more on Wilson’s internal fire: “He likes the competition,” Bradley said. “Just watching him, I think he enjoys that. You saw a little bit of that in him. I think over the course of time, I think he's gonna be one of those guys that likes to just compete.” Bradley’s observation is especially relevant for a receiver trying to prove himself on the depth chart. The Steelers’ wide receiver room remains in flux behind DK Metcalf, and with Calvin Austin III and Robert Woods still proving their roles, there’s an opportunity to be seized. That Wilson already “likes the competition” is critical. It means he’s not shying away from the challenge or waiting for an invitation. He’s embracing it. The phrase “over the course of time” also hints at sustainability. Wilson’s mentality is a long-term mindset that meshes well with the organization’s culture. His injury-shortened rookie season is well-documented, but he’s back fully healthy now, aligning with the competitive mindset that camp observers say makes him stand out. His college metrics, particularly separation rate and blocking effort, paired with the Steelers’ scheme shift under Arthur Smith, suggest he could be a reliable slot option and return contributor. Steelers' Camp Culture Built For Competitors There’s a reason Tomlin often says “iron sharpens iron.” The Steelers have cultivated a camp environment that rewards effort, not just flashes. That makes it the perfect setting for someone like Wilson, who thrives off competition and embraces the grind. This year’s camp also feels different in how intentionally the coaching staff is evaluating role players. With the offensive coordinator focused on a more balanced, physical offense, players like Wilson, who block hard, run clean routes, and don’t demand the ball, become invaluable pieces. With the first preseason game fast approaching, Wilson still has much to prove. But based on what Dulac and Bradley have already seen, he’s doing more than just surviving the early reps; he’s maximizing them. Is Wilson already carving out a role, or is it too early to tell?
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