After moving from the Bronx to Queens, Juan Soto’s performance has raised eyebrows, especially when compared to his impressive stint with the Yankees. While Soto’s struggles with the New York Mets haven’t been disastrous — he’s still a productive player — his stats have certainly dipped. As of Tuesday, Soto was hitting .250/.400/.429/.829 with just two home runs, a far cry from the .288/.419/.569/.989 line he posted with the Yankees, including 41 home runs.
However, it’s not Soto’s underperformance that’s stirring the pot — it’s his excuses. The star outfielder recently mentioned how much easier it was to hit when Aaron Judge, widely considered the best hitter in baseball, was behind him in the lineup, leading to fewer intentional walks and more strikes to hit. “I had the best hitter in baseball hitting behind me,” Soto said, citing that he was pitched differently with Judge in the lineup.
Mets fans might not appreciate those comments, especially after Soto’s hefty $765 million contract. But Aaron Judge, as expected, quickly addressed the situation, providing a response every Yankees fan will undoubtedly appreciate. Judge’s rebuttal put Soto’s remarks in perspective, making it clear that while excuses are part of the game, they don’t change the fact that he’s facing some of the best competition in the league.
