Juan Soto shares who has helped him the most amid slow start to Mets tenure

Star outfielder Juan Soto hit a pair of home runs in a game for the second time since May 1 as he helped the New York Mets notch a 7-1 win at the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday. 

Following the victory, Soto credited manager Carlos Mendoza for what Mendoza has offered the slugger amid his transition to the Mets and his early-season struggles at the plate. 

"I've been feeling, you know, really comfortable. It's not easy at all," Soto explained, as shared by Bob Nightengale of USA Today. "You know, when you come to a team for the first time, it's always going to take you a little bit to settle in, but Mendoza has been helping big time."

Skipper Craig Counsell was routinely linked with the Mets following the 2023 season, but he reset the market for managers at that time when he signed a record-setting five-year, $40M contract with the Chicago Cubs. Thus, many Mets fans felt that fall that the club "settled" by hiring Mendoza, who had never before served as a manager at the highest level. 

The 2024 Mets ended May 29 at 22-33, but Mendoza ultimately guided the club to a playoff berth and to the National League Championship Series. He finished third in NL Manager of the Year Award voting for last season. 

As for Soto, much has been made this spring about whether or not he's been pressing at the dish after he signed a 15-year, $765M contract that could exceed $800M to join the Mets this past offseason. For what it's worth, Baseball Reference shows that he hit .346 with four home runs, five RBI, six walks and a 1.339 OPS over his first seven games of May. 

It sounds like he feels he's on the verge of a true breakout at the plate. 

"I've been seeing the ball well, just trying to make hard contact everywhere I go," Soto told SNY's Steve Gelbs (h/t Tom Hanslin) after Wednesday's win. "Right now, I feel pretty good. What I've been working on is going the right way. We still have a long way to go, but I think we're going the same way. Trying to make sure I be on time and make good decisions at the plate."

Soto hasn't yet lived up to expectations since Opening Day, but the 24-14 Mets nevertheless entered Thursday atop the NL East standings. He'll look to continue to "make good decisions at the plate" when the Amazins open a three-game home series versus the Cubs on Friday night.