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Mets' Juan Soto's latest HR places him among MLB legends
New York Mets designated hitter Juan Soto. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Mets' Juan Soto's latest HR places him among MLB legends

While the 2026 season may be one New York Mets fans plan to forget, Juan Soto has reason to remember it as a special one for his career. 

Soto further etched his name in MLB history as part of the Mets' 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night. 

Juan Soto crushed a three-run HR to secure the win 

With New York up by only one and two base runners already aboard in the bottom of the sixth inning, Soto crushed an 0-1 pitch to deep right-center field. It was his 26th home run of the season. 

And even though that's a far cry from what her put up in recent seasons — he entered 2026 with consecutive 40-homer years and exceeded 30 in three seasons in a row — Soto's latest long ball shows exactly how productive he's been throughout his career. 

Soto is now among legends career-wise 

Soto, 27, now has 270 home runs as he's wrapping up his ninth MLB season. And his 270 home runs, coupled with his 104 stolen bases, place him among several of the game's legends.

Soto now joins Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Trout as the only players to record at least 270 home runs and steal 100-plus bases before turning 28.

Soto has been one of the most productive all-around players in baseball 

It took Soto 1,199 games to also register 1,187 hits, 210 doubles, 761 RBI, 834 runs scored and a career slash line of .281/.415/.531 to go along with his 270 home runs and 104 stolen bases. Resume-wise, Soto is a five-time All-Star, six-time Silver Slugger, batting champion (2020), National League stolen base leader (2025) and World Series champion (2019). 

So far in 2026, his second season with the Mets, Soto has just 64 RBI, 59 runs and just nine steals, all well below his usual standards, granted in only 103 games.  

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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