Juan Soto's first year with the Mets is becoming more and more legendary by the game, and Friday saw another milestone set for the outfielder.
Soto's fourth-inning blast not only gave the Mets an 8-4 lead, but it was the 42nd long ball of his season, a new career high. It's the third-most ever by a Met in a single season, and his 21 homers at home are tied for fourth-most by a Met.
Considering how Soto's inaugural season in Flushing started, it's impressive how far the slugger has come, to the point that he's having one of his best statistical seasons ever. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was asked after Friday's 12-6 win over Soto's former team, the Nationals, what impressed him the most about Soto.
"When you talk about the numbers, that is something special," Mendoza said. "For me, it’s just the person. It’s how consistent he has been the whole year. It was hard for him in the beginning, going through the ups and downs, tough stretches…Never panicked, the impact he has with the boys, that for me is what makes him who he is.
"Special guy, special player, man, it’s pretty unbelievable what he’s doing."
"Feels great," Soto said of reaching his new milestone. "A lot of hard work day in and day out since the offseason and to get results it’s really good for any player. It feels great that we got the win. It was good."
After the blast, Soto trotted out to left field, where the Citi Field crowd chanted and showed him love. It doesn't feel like too long ago Soto wasn't getting that reception from the home crowd, but he's flipped his season on its head and is helping the Mets push their way into the postseason.
Over his last 20 games, dating back to Aug. 29, Soto has a .368/.462/.829 slashline with 10 home runs, three doubles, one triple, 24 RBI and 20 runs. During that span, he leads the majors in home runs, RBI, SLG, total bases (63) and OPS (1.291).
The reception for Juan Soto at Citi Field after his 42nd home run 👏 pic.twitter.com/1LoTCHlTCz
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 20, 2025
"This crowd has been unbelievable," Soto said. "The whole year they’ve been showing up, Nothing else we can ask for."
In his eighth big league season, Soto continues to push the heights of the production he can put up. After setting a career high in homers in his final season with the Padres, he eclipsed that with the Yankees a year ago, en route to finishing third in MVP voting. But in 2025, Soto continues to produce power that we haven't seen from him.
What goes into it?
"A combination of everything that he does at the plate," Mendoza explained. "His ability to control the strike zone. His bat-to-ball skills, his power, his ability to drive the ball to all fields. His ability to hit righties and lefties and on top of that, the awareness and understanding of the situation. What the pitcher is trying to do to him, it’s a complete package at the batter’s box. At this point, nothing surprises me anymore. He’s going to continue to get better, that’s pretty unbelievable."
Soto finished Friday's game going 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. His walk is the 121st of the season and is now just four shy of tying John Olerud's franchise record for a season. His 34th stolen base, another career high, are the most by a Met in a single since since Eric Young Jr. in 2013.
With eight games to go, and just six stolen bases needed, Soto can become the first Met to go 40/40 and just the seventh player in MLB history to do it.
Unbelievable indeed.
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