Read My Lips: Juan Soto Will Hit

During the first seven years of his Major League career, Juan Soto has set an extraordinarily high bar for himself. A generational talent with a keen eye, elite plate discipline, and a powerful swing, Soto has become one of the most feared hitters in baseball.

Entering the 2025 season, Soto boasted a career slash line of .285/.421/.533 with an OPS of .854, 201 home runs, and 592 runs batted in. Numbers like those don’t just suggest stardom—they demand it.

Now, in his first stint with the Mets, Soto has gotten off to a relatively slow start by his lofty standards. Through his first 15 games in orange and blue, he's slashing .250/.409/.385 with an OPS of .794, tallying just one home run and four RBI. For most players, those would be respectable early-season stats. But when you're Juan Soto—and when you've signed the richest contract in sports history, a 15-year, $765 million megadeal—expectations are set sky-high.

In the ever-demanding New York media market, it didn’t take long for some fans and commentators to start expressing frustration. In this classic case of “what have you done for me lately,” the criticism came swiftly. One fan on social media posted, “Juan Soto can’t hit in the clutch,” while another, misquoting the deal’s value, complained, “$756 million for Soto not to get two hits?”

Even sports radio chimed in. After Soto struck out in a key spot, a WFAN host quipped, “You’re not Rod Carew hitting .360.” It was a strange comparison—Carew, for all his greatness, never stared down pitchers like Soto often does, a fiery trait that's always been part of his game. Soto’s intensity at the plate is not an act—it’s his identity.

But here's the reality: it's only a matter of time before the critics are silenced. Soto will hit. He always does. This is likely just a small blip before he breaks out in a big way and becomes the engine driving the Mets’ offense.

And let’s be clear—this isn’t a matter of Soto "pressing" or struggling to adjust to life in New York. He already passed that test last season with the Yankees. He came out red-hot in the Bronx, slashing .325/.438/.581 with an OPS of 1.019 over his first 31 games, belting eight home runs and driving in 25 runs.

Even when he cooled off later in the year, he was still productive. From August through the end of the regular season, Soto slashed a more human .243/.383/.519, still good for a .902 OPS. During one stretch from August 7 through August 31, he hit just .207 (18-for-87), but still managed to crush nine home runs and drive in 18 runs over those 23 games. That's what stars do—they contribute even when their batting average dips.

Soto’s presence in the Mets lineup is already paying dividends, even if his own numbers haven’t popped yet. Just look at Pete Alonso, who’s batting right behind him. Alonso is off to a scorching start, slashing .321/.431/.660 with an OPS of 1.091, four home runs, and 18 RBI in the first 15 games. Pitchers can’t pitch around Soto without paying the price, and Alonso is cashing in.

Some have speculated that leaving Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch has affected Soto’s power numbers, especially since Citi Field plays bigger. Keith Hernandez even mentioned on a recent Mets broadcast that Soto doesn't have that same target in right field to aim for. But that wasn’t a critique—it was a compliment. Soto is a gap-to-gap hitter, not a pull-happy slugger. Despite the inviting dimensions in the Bronx, Soto actually hit more home runs on the road (21) than at home (20) last season.

He can hit in any ballpark—and he will. Once the weather warms up and he gets into a rhythm, Citi Field will become his stage. And historically, he's always performed well there.

Some minor scrutiny has also been directed at Soto’s defense. A few misplays have drawn attention, but let’s not overreact. Soto is not a Gold Glover, but he’s far from a liability. His offensive production more than compensates for the occasional defensive lapse. Not every superstar is a five-tool player. Soto’s value lies in how much he lengthens a lineup and how many games he helps his team win. And he’ll be doing a lot of that.

So, Mets fans, take a deep breath. The numbers will come. Soto will get hot. And when he does, the same fans who are panicking in April will be on their feet in July chanting his name.

Read my lips—or my text: Juan Soto is going to hit. It’s just a matter of time.