Mets Activate Juan Soto From Injured List

The Mets announced that Juan Soto has been activated from the 10-day injured list, with infielder Eric Wagaman optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move.  Soto returns after a little more than a month on the IL due to a left calf strain.

After a right calf strain cost Soto a little under three weeks of time in April, he started to develop soreness in his left calf after the All-Star break, resulting in an IL placement on July 25.  The slugger will make it back well within the estimated 4-to-6 recovery timeline, and Soto didn’t require any minor league rehab games.

As was the case following his first calf injury, New York will probably use Soto primarily as a DH in order to save his legs in the season’s final month.  There is no point in risking any further injury with the Mets so far out of the playoff race, and so Soto will play out the string looking to add some more numbers to what has been another impressive performance when Soto has been healthy.

Over 359 plate appearances, Soto is hitting .283/.408/.539 with 21 homers.  His 158 wRC+ exactly matches his career average from his first eight seasons, so Soto is still looking as dangerous as ever two seasons into his record-breaking 15-year, $765MM contract.  While the Mets have yet to reach the postseason during Soto’s tenure, it is hard to place much or any blame on Soto for his team’s lack of success.