October or bust? Inside Juan Soto's roller-coaster first season as a Met

THE NEW YORK METS reached a milestone erstwhile they completed their last homestand of the 2025 play past weekend: 3,182,057 fans had passed done the turnstiles, mounting a single-season attendance grounds astatine Citi Field.

But the homestand, arsenic acold arsenic it mattered successful the standings, was a fearfulness show. Battling to clasp connected to the last wild-card playoff spot successful the National League, the Mets mislaid 2 of 3 to the Texas Rangers, took 2 of 3 from the playoff-bound San Diego Padres, past mislaid power of their postseason destiny aft inexplicably dropping 2 of 3 games successful a slapdash show against the lowly Washington Nationals.

The sellout assemblage astatine Sunday's loss, successful turn, serenaded the Mets with boos.

It was besides unsmooth astatine times for Juan Soto. Against the Nationals, the enactment that archetypal signed and developed him, helium delivered 2 multihit games, a tying ninth-inning single, a location run, and 2 steals. But helium besides made his archetypal mistake of the season, a costly mistake that allowed a tally to people successful Friday's extra-inning loss, and was caught stealing successful Sunday's one-run defeat. It felt fitting successful what has been a topsy-turvy archetypal play arsenic a Met for the highest-paid escaped cause successful shot history.

While spirited fans -- encouraged by the advancement nether proprietor Steve Cohen's watch, and caller disconnected the precocious of the team's captivating 2024 tally to the NL Championship Series -- filled the ballpark anxious to ticker a World Series contender, the nine with the second-most costly roster successful the majors went from holding the champion grounds successful shot successful mid-June to floundering truthful severely for three-plus months that a historical illness from the postseason representation is precise conceivable with 5 roadworthy games left.

Individually, Soto emerged from a sluggish commencement by his standards, which drew relentless scrutiny, to registry 1 of the champion seasons successful his caller franchise's history, an MVP-level output that has helped support the Mets' postseason dreams afloat. But their roller-coaster thrust of a play volition present necessitate a spectacular finish, reminiscent of past season, erstwhile they clinched a playoff berth and won a wild-card bid connected the aforesaid three-city trip. Returning to Citi Field successful October volition besides astir surely necessitate a travel to Los Angeles to look the defending champion Dodgers successful a three-game wild-card series.

Soto, the Mets' $765 cardinal man, volition beryllium beforehand and center.

After his turbulent instauration to Queens, Soto lately has looked arsenic if he's yet feeling astatine location arsenic helium plays for his 4th squad successful 4 seasons. But inquire him, and that's not rather the lawsuit -- astatine slightest not yet.

"It's a small better," Soto said successful Spanish past week.

So, erstwhile volition it consciousness similar home?

"Soon," Soto said. "Soon."

What if the free-falling Mets stun the shot satellite and triumph the World Series?

"Maybe," Soto said. "Maybe."

AFTER HELPING LEAD the New York Yankees to the World Series successful his lone play successful the Bronx, Soto joined the Mets this twelvemonth relieved to yet find a imperishable home. But the opening of his imaginable 15-year enactment crossed municipality was rocky.

"It was a small uncomfortable astatine the beginning," Soto said. "It was difficult."

Early successful the season, Soto did not nutrient the benignant of results fans had expected. He batted .224 with a .745 OPS successful his archetypal 55 games. The numbers were uglier successful 57 sheet appearances with runners successful scoring position: a slash enactment of .130/.228/.239 that defied his stout underlying numbers. His assemblage connection was examined from each angle. External sound blared connected the airwaves arsenic helium acknowledged...