New York Yankees pitcher Marcus Stroman voiced his respect for former teammate Juan Soto following the Mets’ recent comeback win. On Friday, Soto continued his impressive summer by hitting a two-run home run off Stroman, contributing to the Mets’ 6-5 victory. Alongside the home run, Soto also recorded a double in the third inning and a single in the fifth, while Stroman gave up three earned runs over five innings.

Reflecting on Soto’s game, Stroman told reporters,

“He’s one of the best to ever do it,”

emphasizing the challenge Soto presents to pitchers. He added,

“You have to kind of play a game [to beat him], and he was ahead of me today.”

Juan Soto’s Continued Impact Amid Mets’ Mixed Results

Soto’s recent form justifies the significant 15-year, $765 million contract he signed last offseason. Since June 1, he has been hitting .337 with 12 home runs, 23 RBIs, and a 1.202 OPS, despite the Mets holding a 15-16 record in those 31 games. His overall season statistics include a .266 batting average and a .916 OPS, with a 3.7 bWAR that leads all Mets players and ranks among the top ten across the league.

Stroman reiterated Soto’s dominance by stating,

“He’s one of the best for a reason,”

and calling Soto

“extremely locked in right now. … He’s just an incredibly hard AB.”

Mets and NL East Standings as Soto Leads the Charge

Thanks in part to Soto’s offensive contributions, the 51-38 Mets have positioned themselves just half a game behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East division. The team’s ongoing fight for the division lead remains tightly contested as the season advances.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. What is Juan Soto’s bat speed?

A. Ramos and Soto decreased their bat speed from over 75 mph to above 73 mph. Their new speed is still in the top 75, much higher than the league average of 71.6 mph. Despite this, Soto continues to have exceptional bat speed.