Juan Soto, the Mets' latest blockbuster acquisition, sauntered into his first spring training press conference today with the kind of swagger that makes you wonder if he moonlights as a matador. "On paper, we have a really good team," he declared, eyes gleaming like a kid who just found the prize in a Cracker Jack box. "I'm really happy to be surrounded with those guys and to be part of this team. It looks amazing."
Soto didn't waste time singling out his new bash brother, Pete Alonso. "I think Peter Alonso is one of the guys that impressed me more," he said, perhaps envisioning a home run derby that could power the Citi Field lights on its own. "He's one of the best pure power hitters in the league."
When asked about the importance of lineup protection, Soto emphasized the team dynamic. "I would say not only to me, for the whole team. We all feed off from that," he explained. "As a team, it's not only him protecting me. But as a team, we've got to protect him too. So it's teamwork."
For Mets fans wondering what to expect from their new superstar, Soto offered a promise as hearty as a New York pastrami sandwich. "They're going to get a player that's going to come to play hard every day for 162 games," he vowed. "Doesn't matter what is going on out there. I'm going to give my 100% every day."
Despite the buzz surrounding the Mets' lineup, Soto remained grounded. "There's teams out there that have a really good lineup, too," he acknowledged. "At the end of the day, it's going to tell you who has the best lineup whenever you go step in the field and show it."
Reflecting on his monumental 15-year contract, Soto admitted the reality hasn't fully sunk in. "Not yet. I'm still thinking about it and everything, which is unbelievable," he said, perhaps mentally calculating how many hot dogs that paycheck could buy. "But I'm really happy to know where I'm going to be for the next 15 years."
Life since signing has been a whirlwind. "It's just crazy, but it's fun at the same time," Soto remarked, likely referring to the avalanche of friend requests and dinner invitations. "It's a lot of love from the Dominican Republic and a lot of love from the New York fans and everything."
Soto also expressed enthusiasm about the Mets' diverse clubhouse. "We have a lot of Latin players," he observed. "It's exciting. A lot of guys that we know where we come from and how many teams we got to go through. And now we are here in the biggest stage."
As for leadership, Soto plans to lead by example. "I'm just going to keep being myself, keep being who I am, and try to lead on my way," he said. "I'm not going to change anything."
With the weight of a record-breaking contract, Soto remains unfazed. "I'm not trying to do more than what I have done in the past," he stated confidently. "I'm just going to keep the same guy, try to do the same thing I've been doing year after year."
Drawing from his World Series experience in 2019, Soto emphasized the importance of team effort. "It doesn't matter how much expectations you have. You just got to go out there and show them who is the best team," he said, perhaps envisioning another champagne-soaked celebration.
In true New York fashion, when asked how to handle the pressure and inevitable haters, Soto's response was as sharp as a Bronx cheer. "Winning games. That's all you got to do," he quipped. "You don't have to talk too much. You just got to go out there and get the job done."
As the Mets gear up for the season, fans can rest assured that Juan Soto is ready to bring his A-game, a dash of flair, and perhaps a few more reasons to believe that this could finally be the year.
Here is the full press conference:
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