New York Mets star Juan Soto hasn’t excelled this season in the way that he’s capable of.
After finishing third in American League MVP voting last season for the New York Yankees, the $765 million man has regressed this season, his first with the Mets.
Soto does have 28 home runs (entering Wednesday), but his .251 batting average is 30 points below his career BA, and on the whole, he hasn’t been a timely hitter for the Mets this year with men on base.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian was asked about Soto while appearing as a guest on the Foul Territory network.
“He hasn’t been the player I thought he would be (this year),” Kurkjian said.
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“I mean, he’s been productive, he’s hit a bunch of homers, a lot of them with nobody on base … (but) he is way better than a .250 hitter … I just think he’s too good a hitter to struggle like this. And when I say struggle, he should be hitting over .300. He’s that good of a hitter.”
“I just think it’s been an adjustment … like it was in San Diego,” Kurkjian continued. “It was an adjustment there. You know, when he walks in, there are a bunch of other star players there. I think it takes him and everyone else a little bit of time to figure out where everybody’s going, though it didn’t take much time with the Yankees. He was really good right away and all season for them. Same thing hasn’t happened with the Mets.”
That’s when Kurkjian pivoted and predicted that Soto is about to get hot and lead the Mets into the postseason.
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“There’s six weeks to go (in the regular season), and I fully expect him to get really hot and carry them into the playoffs,” Kurkjian declared. “I’ve been saying that all year. I think it’s going to happen.”
The Mets could certainly use a torrid stretch from Soto. New York has gone 9-13 since the All-Star break and entered Wednesday with only a two-game cushion over the Cincinnati Reds for the third spot in the National League Wild Card standings. The Mets were also six games back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL East lead.
Soto has had a good August, batting .282 with three home runs so far. Perhaps Kurkjian’s right, and Soto is on the verge of a breakout.
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