HOUSTON — Juan Soto’s New York Mets debut ended in disappointment as he failed to deliver in a tense situation. Faced with an opportunity to make a significant impact late in the game, Soto approached the plate in the ninth inning with two runners on base, but the Mets trailing by two. Unfortunately, instead of connecting with a game-changing hit, Soto missed a full-count slider from closer Josh Hader, which was well outside the strike zone. This miss sealed the Mets’ fate, resulting in a 3-1 defeat to Houston in their second consecutive opening day loss.
“He just got me in that situation,” remarked Soto, acknowledging the pitcher’s skill.
Prior to Soto’s miss, Hader had loaded the bases with no outs and struck out Mets’ third-string catcher Hayden Senger, who was making his major league debut. Francisco Lindor managed a sacrifice fly that cut the lead to 3-1, placing runners on first and third. However, Hader’s strikeout of Soto marked his 200th career save.
“We all want to do something in a big spot,” Soto explained. “We’re all trying to get the knock, bring the runs in, and assist the team, regardless.”
Soto managed a single and two walks against the Astros, showcasing some of the prowess that earned him a record-breaking $765 million, 15-year contract as a free agent last December.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza pondered whether the pressure of debuting with a new team affected Soto’s performance in the ninth inning. “Yeah, of course, as a competitor, he always wants to come through,” Mendoza commented. “I thought he had some good at-bats today. Even then, he got it to 3-0, then 3-1, and just barely missed a pretty good pitch. But he’ll come through.”
Soto, who transitioned from last season’s American League champion New York Yankees to the Mets, is part of the team’s efforts to capture their first World Series title since 1986. The four-time All-Star expressed his disappointment about the team’s performance.
“I was expecting to win the game,” he shared. “It’s definitely not how we wanted it. They’re a really good team, and they came in strong. For me, it was a valuable experience. These guys are fantastic, and we’ve been having a great time since spring training. We just need to carry that through.”
At 26, Soto boasts an impressive track record, hitting .288 with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs last season while earning a Silver Slugger Award for the fifth consecutive year. With a career batting average of .285, Soto has 201 home runs and 592 RBIs over seven major league seasons, playing previously with the Nationals and the Padres.