In a whirlwind of a season, Juan Soto showcased his extraordinary talent, achieving a remarkable 30-30 season with 43 home runs, 38 stolen bases, and a .921 OPS during his inaugural year with the Mets. However, despite this individual brilliance, the Mets found themselves on the outside looking in as the postseason unfolded—an irony not lost on Soto, who had signed a staggering 15-year, $765 million deal in hopes of building a championship contender in Queens.
At his introductory press conference, Soto emphasized that his decision to join the Mets was not solely about the financial windfall. Instead, he was drawn to the promise of sustained excellence within the organization. He expressed confidence in the Mets’ potential, bolstered by owner Steve Cohen’s ambitious vision of winning two to four World Series titles over the next decade. Yet, as the season drew to a close, that vision appeared dimmer than expected.
The Mets began the season with high hopes, standing as the best team in baseball through mid-June. However, a catastrophic collapse saw them finish the latter half of the season with a dismal 38-55 record. This downturn was marked not only by a series of injuries to key pitchers like Kodai Senga, Griffin Canning, and Tylor Megill, but also by the underperformance of returning players like Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea, who struggled to regain their previous form. Soto poignantly noted, “They got hurt… They were unbelievable at the beginning of the year. They started getting hurt, and that’s when everything started going down.”
Despite the lack of postseason success, Soto remained optimistic about the Mets’ future. “One season is not going to determine what we have here. We have everything that we need to go all the way still,” he asserted after a disappointing loss to the Marlins. His belief is not unfounded; the Mets’ farm system has shown promise, with emerging pitching talents like Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong, alongside a strong offensive core that includes Soto and Francisco Lindor.
Yet, this optimism must be tempered with a dose of realism. The stark contrast between the Mets’ early-season success and their late-season collapse raises critical questions about the team’s resilience and depth. As American novelist Ernest Hemingway famously described, their downfall came “gradually, then suddenly.” This suggests that while the talent is present, the emotional and physical toll of injuries and underperformance created a perfect storm that the Mets could not weather.
Soto’s first season, while filled with personal accolades, will be marked by the disappointment of unmet expectations. As he candidly stated, “Any time you don’t make it to the playoffs or win the championship, it’s a failure.” This sentiment encapsulates the harsh realities of professional sports—where individual brilliance can be overshadowed by team shortcomings.
Looking ahead, the Mets face a critical offseason. The challenge will be not only to address the injury woes that plagued their pitching staff but also to cultivate the potential of their young talent while maintaining the competitive edge that Soto envisioned when he joined the franchise. The journey to reclaiming a contender status will require strategic decisions, effective player development, and perhaps most importantly, a collective belief that the pieces are in place for future success. The upcoming months will be crucial for the Mets as they strive to transform their 2025 narrative from disappointment to triumph.
