New York.- Juan Soto continues to prove his worth with the Mets. On Wednesday, he hit two home runs that led New York to a 7-3 victory over the Braves at Citi Field, also breaking a historical Major League Baseball record.
“With that performance, Soto reached his 27th multi-home run game before turning 27, surpassing Jimmie Foxx and establishing himself as the absolute leader in this category. The first home run ignited a five-run rally in the fourth inning, while the second allowed him to claim a mark that places him alongside Hall of Fame legends such as Foxx, Mel Ott and Eddie Mathews,” reported Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
“It was something very special for me,” he commented.
Soto finished the game 2-for-4, with two solo home runs off Didier Fuentes and Austin Cox, both directed toward right-center field. He has accumulated 10 home runs in June, tied with Cal Raleigh and Eugenio Suárez as the leaders of the month, including five in his last five games.
“He’s a spectacular player,” said reliever Ryne Stanek. “Only a handful of players in the world can do what he is doing.”
Even by his high standards, June has been brilliant for Soto. Last week he reached 1,000 hits in MLB (and already has seven more). Furthermore, he joined Darryl Strawberry as the only Mets players with at least 10 home runs and 20 walks in a single calendar month.
Currently, he leads the Mets in home runs, runs scored, walks, on-base percentage, and bWAR, with nine stolen bases as a bonus.
“That’s why you pay for a ticket to watch a baseball game,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “To witness something like this, it’s a show.”
At the halfway point of the season and in the first year of a 15-year, $765 million contract, Soto has dispelled any doubt about his impact.
He is projected to finish with a slash line of .256/.393/.505, 28 doubles, 38 home runs, up to 132 walks, and a personal best of 18 steals. Although it wouldn’t be his best year, it would keep him in the conversation for the National League MVP.
“Everything is starting to click,” Soto said. “My swing, everything is going in the right direction… The cold is finally gone, so now I can have fun.”
Since June 6, Soto has raised his OPS from .797 to over .900, fueled by a streak of multi-hit and multi-home run games.
“Most guys would kill to put up the numbers he’s producing right now,” pointed out Stanek. “He’s good at practically everything inside the batter’s box: elite zone control, elite contact, elite power, he runs well. Everything you look for in a hitter, he has.”
image credits for this post: n.com.do
