Juan Soto makes bold claim about Mets amid Knicks' magical NBA Finals run

The fact that the New York Mets began Friday with a record of 30-38 understandably has even the most optimistic of fans fearing that the 2026 MLB season could soon become a lost cause for their beloved club.

During a recent chat with David Lennon of Newsday, Mets star outfielder Juan Soto insisted there's still time for the Mets to go on a magical run similar to what the New York Knicks have achieved this spring. 

Juan Soto: 2026 Mets "still have a shot"

"We still have a shot," Soto insisted. "We’re still here, and all the guys that are hurt are really close to being back, so I think it’s not as far as people think. I think it’s closer than what everybody is thinking or expecting."

Soto was referencing the noteworthy injury crisis that has impacted the Mets since April. Star shortstop Francisco Lindor has been out of the Mets' lineup since he first suffered a calf injury on April 22, but he reportedly wants "to return to the field" on June 20.

Meanwhile, Soto is among the Mets players who recently attended an NBA Finals game between the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. It sounds like Soto wants to once again experience such an atmosphere as a New York athlete. 

"It was a great feeling from the fans — how crazy they went, how loud they can get," Soto said about the Knicks-Spurs contest. "It was impressive. It’s just a different feeling to be in there, you know, I felt like part of them. Those fans were paying attention to every little detail of the game, the back-and-forth, and that’s one of the things that made it special."

Juan Soto wants to "get back" to championship moments

Of course, Soto is no stranger to playing on the biggest of stages. He earned a World Series championship ring with the Washington Nationals in 2019, and he later helped the New York Yankees reach the Fall Classic in 2024. The Yankees lost that series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"For me, I’m all-in, trying to get back to those big moments," Soto continued. "It’s definitely not easy when you’re going through times like these, but we got to keep our heads up and keep going."

It remains to be seen how long Soto and Co. will be permitted to keep going with the current Mets squad intact before team president of baseball operations David Stearns and team owner Steve Cohen start making certain players available to advertised contenders.