$78M Mets Star Helps Juan Soto Get Payback After Silencing Doubters at Citifield

“What pressure? I don’t have any pressure”. Juan Soto said that, but did anybody really believe him? Carrying the weight of a huge $765 million contract, the Mets’ star was under intense pressure. His first month in Queens had hardly been all smooth sailing, particularly at Citi Field. The home runs just weren’t coming, fueling whispers about the pressure of playing in New York. Then came May 1st, offering Soto the opportunity to finally answer with his bat.

Facing the Arizona Diamondbacks, Soto delivered the fireworks Mets fans so badly wanted. In the sixth inning, he crushed a pitch from Zac Gallen about 391 feet to left-center, breaking his 15-game homerless streak at Citi Field. Two innings later, he did it again. Soto launched a Kevin Ginkel fastball 399 feet to almost the same place.

They weren’t just any homers; they were majestic opposite-field shots, Soto’s signature. Though his solo efforts weren’t enough in the 4-2 Mets loss, the message was loud and clear. As Soto made his way back to the dugout after that second blast, teammate Starling Marte stepped up. Marte, the Mets’ $78 million veteran outfielder, understood the moment. He knew Soto needed to savor this payback against the critics.

According to SNY Mets, “Starling Marte made sure Juan Soto posed for the camera after his 2 home runs yesterday at Citi Field”. It was a perfect moment of camaraderie, with Marte ensuring his teammate was properly acknowledged, silencing the noise, even if just for one afternoon.

Let’s be honest, the doubters had plenty of ammunition entering that game. Soto was hitting a mere .241 across his first 15 home games as a Met, with no home runs. His combined OPS hung around the .770s, well below his typical elite level. Even Soto admitted room for improvement earlier, telling reporters, “I can do better than what I’ve done so far”. The lack of power, especially at home, fueled the narrative that maybe the contract and the city were getting to him.

Fueling that fire, there was the comparison to his hot start in the 2024 season as a Yankee. Over his first 30 games in pinstripes last season, Soto hit a scorching .316 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs. His OPS was a staggering .981. Compare that with his start with the Mets: 32 games into the 2025 season (including the two-homer day), Soto was hitting .252 with five home runs and 14 RBIs. The numbers clearly showed a slower start this year, feeding the “pressure” narrative.

Joining the Hall of Fame company: Soto’s historic night despite the Mets’ loss

But after hitting those two rockets, Soto sounded like a weight had been lifted. “When I’m hitting the ball well [to left field], things start to get better at the plate,” Soto said. “I’m starting to see the ball better, deeper. It’s a good sign”. Manager Carlos Mendoza echoed that sense of relief and optimism, saying, “We knew he was close”. It seemed the focus on process, preached by both player and manager, seemed to finally pay off in the type of explosive results that everyone expected.

This powerful performance also adds his name to the annals of baseball history. It was his 24th multi-homer game of his career before his 27th birthday, matching Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner for the fifth all-time. He now trails only legends like Jimmie Foxx and Alex Rodriguez. Furthermore, it was his 101st game with both a home run and a walk before age 27, tying another icon, Mel Ott, again for fifth place behind Mickey Mantle (115), Eddie Mathews (106), and Mike Trout (105).

Despite Soto’s heroics and the disappointing loss, the Mets were in a great position overall. Their record was now 21-11, tops in the competitive NL East. Their home record still stood strong at 13-3, even after losing two straight at Citi Field for the first time since last July. While Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen got the win and Kodai Senga took the loss for New York, Soto’s resurgence was the day’s biggest takeaway. So, was this the flame, the real starting point of Juan Soto’s reign in Queens?

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