May 28, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) reacts after striking out during the game against the Chicago White Sox at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

Mets legend gets honest about Juan Soto's 'emotional' hitting woes

Originally posted on New York Mets on SI | By Grant Young | Last updated May 30, 2025 8:00 AM ET

New York Mets slugger Juan Soto didn't record a hit during his team's recent three-game series against the Chicago White Sox. Instead, he went 0 for 12 with 3 strikeouts, thus dropping his average to .130 with a .427 OPS in his last 15 games. In the 2025 season, Soto is hitting .224 with a .745 OPS.

This is not what Mets fans were expecting when their front office signed Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract this past offseason. And while the general belief is that the 26-year-old is going to turn things around and catch fire at some point, fans are becoming weary of waiting.

Juan Soto's 15-year $765 million contract earns him

$51,000,000 per year
$4,250,000 per month
$139,726 per day
$5,822 per hour
$1.62 per second

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— Hard Rock Bet (@HardRockBet) May 29, 2025

There have been countless explanations about what might be going wrong with Soto at the plate. And a very candid opinion was offered by New York Mets (and Yankees) legend David Cone during his May 26 appearance on the ESPN Baseball Tonight podcast.

"That’s what’s going on with Juan Soto. It’s the heartbeat. It’s emotional," Cone said. "There’s no question about it. That’s what leads to the confidence in the batter’s box. That leads to the lack of the Soto shuffle.

"And I don’t know how you work through that. That’s something he’s going to have to figure out himself. He’s got a good support group around him that is going to give him everything he needs," Cone continued.

"But bottom line is, Juan Soto’s got to feel it emotionally. And until he does, we’re not going to see the same old swagger that we’re used to seeing from him.”