Mets' Juan Soto is tantalizingly close to joining exclusive club

Amid a slow start in April, New York Mets fans and the always-patient New York media were sounding alarm bells about Juan Soto's performance after he signed a $750 million free-agent contract with the team. Those alarms should be officially silenced as Soto has put together another monster season at the plate and been exactly as advertised.

Not only is he having another great season, but he is also chasing a historic milestone that not many people would have ever projected for him.

Juan Soto is sneaking up on a 40-40 season

Not only has Soto already matched his career-high in home runs (41, which he previously set a year ago with the New York Yankees), but he has also already established a new career high with 33 stolen bases after swiping a bag in the Mets' win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday afternoon.

That means he is just seven stolen bases away from becoming just the seventh player to ever post a 40-40 (40 home runs, 40 stolen bases) season. The others are Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Shohei Ohtani (who is the only member of the 50-50 club). 

What makes Soto's quest for a 40-40 season so stunning is that stolen bases have never really been a big part of his game. Power, pure hitting ability and a great eye at the plate have always been his greatest strengths. Prior to this season, his career-high in steals was only 12 (accomplished in 2019 and 2023) — the only times in his career when he reached double-digit swipes. 

Now he is closing in on 40. Not only has he already set a career-high, but he has also been shockingly efficient when it comes to stealing bases having been caught just three times. 

Whether he reaches the 40-40 mark or not, he has been outstanding at the plate and given the Mets another impact bat in their lineup. He ranks in the top six in on-base percentage and OPS across all of Major League Baseball, while also having the 12th-highest WAR (Wins Above Replacement) at 5.7. It has been money well spent.