Mets' Juan Soto had secret weapon for latest multi-homer game

A recent story detailed how New York Mets star outfielder Juan Soto has emerged as a needed leader for what has been the most disappointing team of the ongoing MLB season.

Soto led with his offensive performance against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, as he hit a pair of home runs to help the visitors earn a 6-4 win that improved New York to 34-41. Per Chelsea Janes of SNY, Soto has credited using "a bat with a thicker, more prominent nob that pushed his bottom hand up from the bottom more than a traditional one" for the recent successes he has enjoyed at the plate. 

How has Juan Soto performed since his bat change? 

According to Baseball Reference, Soto slashed .313/.412/.639 with a 1.051 OPS, eight home runs and 18 RBI over 23 games after he first began experimenting with the different bat on May 22. The Mets and Phillies won't play again until Saturday, so fans will have to wait until the weekend to see if he continues to rake with his new hardware. 

Of course, the Mets can use all the help they can get as they attempt to prevent team president David Stearns and/or owner Steve Cohen from selling key contributors to advertised contenders ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. One piece of good news for Soto and Co. is that star shortstop Francisco Lindor will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Friday. 

How Juan Soto feels while using the different bat versus big-league pitchers

"I feel like I can be quicker, especially on two strikes," Soto said about swinging with the different bat. Interestingly, he added that the new bat is "a tick heavier" than his previous piece. 

The Mets began Friday five games back of a wild-card playoff spot. Most of the National League was sitting above the Mets in the standings at that time. 

One may say that it's far too early for Mets players and fans to be checking the standings and scores. However, the harsh reality is that how the standings look roughly one month from now will likely determine whether or not Stearns and Cohen ultimately punt on the remainder of the campaign.