New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto is facing questions about his baserunning decisions after a sequence of plays in recent games, most notably during Monday night's game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
In the sixth inning, Soto launched a ball deep to left field that appeared destined for extra bases. He momentarily admired the hit, taking a couple of steps out of the batter's box, before realizing the ball had bounced off the Green Monster. The delay cost him, forcing him to settle for a single instead of a potential double. The Mets were trailing 3-1 at the time. Soto commented that he hit the ball hard but underestimated the Green Monster.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza indicated he plans to discuss the incident with Soto. Mendoza acknowledged Soto thought he had hit the ball well enough for extra bases but emphasized the importance of immediate hustle, especially in a unique ballpark such as Fenway.
This incident followed another questionable play the previous night against the Yankees. Soto was slow out of the box on a ground ball, allowing DJ LeMahieu to make a play and throw him out at first. Despite these instances, Soto defended his hustle, saying he believes he has been running hard.
The star outfielder, who joined the Mets with high expectations, is currently in a bit of a slump. Over his last eight games, he has struggled at the plate, collecting only four hits in 29 at-bats. His batting average has dipped to .246, and he also grounded into his ninth double play of the season on Monday.
While Soto's overall season statistics remain solid, with a .376 on-base percentage and an .815 OPS, his recent performance and baserunning decisions are drawing attention and sparking debate among fans and analysts.