Mets' Juan Soto receives praise following concerning Francisco Lindor reports

The leadership style of New York Mets star outfielder Juan Soto generated discussions long before the Mets became arguably the biggest disappointment of the ongoing MLB season en route to beginning Wednesday with a record of 32-41. 

On Wednesday, Max Goodman of NJ Advance Media spoke with multiple individuals about all that Soto has offered the Mets during what became a difficult spring for the organization. 

Juan Soto doesn't get "enough credit" for being a good teammate

"He’s special, the type of player he is," starting pitcher Nolan McLean said about Soto. "But he’s an even better teammate. I don’t think he gets enough credit for that." 

One story from this past offseason claimed that Soto and star shortstop Francisco Lindor had a "chilly" relationship as the Mets endured a brutal collapse last summer. More recently, it was suggested in May that the Mets could eventually make Lindor available to other clubs, in part because "there’s just not a lot of camaraderie" between Lindor and Soto. 

Lindor hasn't played since he suffered a calf injury on April 22, but he reportedly could return to the lineup some time this weekend. While many outsiders have viewed Lindor as an unofficial team captain for years, it sounds like Soto has embraced duties associated with such a role this spring. 

"People have no idea how much he does," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said about Soto, “and he doesn’t want people to highlight all that he does. He’s probably going to do it when there’s only two people in the clubhouse. Or if he’s on the last bus and there’s a player or two there and he feels like he needs to do something, he doesn’t want the attention. He doesn’t want the cameras." 

Why Juan Soto is a willing mentor for younger Mets players

Mets youngsters Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing mentioned how Soto is "always there for everyone" and "acts like a friend." It seems what Soto experienced when he was a rookie with the Washington Nationals in 2018 left a lasting impression. 

"When I came up to the league, I didn’t feel any panic or rush to do anything because of the teammates I had," Soto told Goodman. "They supported me and treated me like one of them, making me feel at home. That was one of the biggest things for me to grow, so why not keep doing the same thing?" 

One person likely isn't going to save a Mets team that hasn't yet recovered after it fell from 7-4 to 7-16. That said, Soto signed a 15-year, $765M contract to join the Mets in December 2024. Thus, the fact that he has emerged as a strong leader during dark times should only be a positive for a team that likely will go through a significant roster restructuring for a second straight offseason.