Juan Soto, the five-time All-Star for the New York Mets, just can’t shake these nagging calf issues this season. He’s slated for an MRI today after leaving Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers with left calf soreness, and honestly, everyone’s concerned, man.
Another Game, Another Early Exit
The Mets faithful watched Soto exit in the sixth inning after just two plate appearances as the designated hitter. This isn’t just a bump or bruise; interim manager Andy Green didn’t hold back, admitting he’s “concerned” about Soto’s calf. It’s been barking at him since July 16! You hate to see it with a talent like Soto. To make matters worse, Jorge Polanco stepped in for him and promptly struck out twice. Talk about adding insult to injury, right?
A Season of Frustration
This isn’t Soto’s first rodeo with calf trouble this year. He missed over two weeks back in April with an unrelated right calf strain, and he’s been playing the outfield sparingly since July 16, trying to stay healthy. Remember that series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday? He missed that too. Green summed it up perfectly, telling MLB.com, “We certainly hoped we were behind it and done talking about this. I know it’s frustrating for [Soto], frustrating for us.” You can practically feel the team’s collective sigh. It’s especially tough because when this 27-year-old is healthy, he’s absolutely tearing it up, batting a stellar .283/.408/.539 with 21 homers across 84 games.
Who Steps Up Next?
So, what’s the plan if Soto has to miss more time? Jorge Polanco is the likely choice to start at DH, with A.J. Ewing, Luis Robert Jr., and Carson Benge stepping into the outfield. For a team that relies so heavily on its stars, this is just a gut punch. Fingers crossed this MRI gives some good news, but for now, the Mets are holding their breath.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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