Juan Soto may not be off to a blazing start in his first season with the Mets, but the 26-year-old superstar continues to etch his name into the history books.
On Saturday afternoon in Denver, Soto played in his 1,000th career MLB game and joined a club so exclusive, only two other names are on the list: Ted Williams and Frank Thomas. With 200 home runs and 800 walks under his belt by the milestone game, Soto became just the third player in league history to reach both marks by his 1,000th appearance.
Despite experiencing career-low marks this year in both OPS+ (130) and on-base percentage (.367), Soto remains one of the most productive hitters in the game. His career OPS+ of 159 is tied with Shohei Ohtani for third among all active players, and his .417 OBP leads the league among active hitters.
Soto’s adjustment period in Queens comes after a standout 2024 campaign in the Bronx, where he helped the Yankees win an American League pennant before signing a historic 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets. Expectations were sky-high entering the season, and while his numbers are down by his standards, he’s still well above league average and flashing the same elite plate discipline that’s defined his career.
His milestone came as the Mets completed a sweep of the Colorado Rockies in a three-game series at Coors Field, signaling some much-needed momentum. Soto, already a four-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger, adds yet another accolade to a resume that already includes a batting title and a World Series ring.
The slow start may have raised eyebrows, but history and now, more milestones, suggest Juan Soto is built for the long run.