NEW YORK — Juan Soto’s numbers are getting ugly.
The slumping New York Mets slugger went hitless once more Wednesday and didn’t get the ball out of the infield in a 9-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
After signing a file $765 million contract in December as a free agent, Soto is batting a measly .224 with eight homers and 25 RBIs in 55 video games throughout a turbulent first season with the Mets.
The four-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger winner was 0-for-4 with a stroll and a strikeout Wednesday in a dreary efficiency that matched the climate. He was booed by a sparse crowd at Citi Area, the place just a few thousand followers had been readily available for a rapidly rescheduled recreation.
With rain within the forecast Wednesday night time, the primary pitch was moved up six hours Tuesday to 1:10 p.m.
Soto is 0-for-16 since lacing a two-run double off the right-center fence Saturday in a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. And nothing appears to be going his method: He misplaced successful on a chaotic play Tuesday night time when he was referred to as out for passing teammate Brandon Nimmo on the basepaths.
Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza expressed religion in Soto earlier than and after Wednesday’s loss, saying that Soto passes the “eye take a look at” regardless of what the stats may say about his efficiency.
“Immediately was a kind of days the place he did not hit the ball exhausting, however I assumed his basis — his decrease half — was in a greater place,” Mendoza mentioned.
Soto’s batting common has dipped 61 factors under his profession mark getting into the season. He hasn’t homered since Might 9, a span of 75 plate appearances, and he has simply seven hits in his final 59 at-bats (.119).
With runners in scoring place this 12 months, he is batting .130 (6-for-46) with a homer and 16 RBIs.
That after racking up 41 dwelling runs, 109 RBIs and a .989 OPS with the crosstown New York Yankees final season, when he helped them attain the World Collection and completed third in AL MVP voting.
Soto has been notably chilly since Might 16, when he obtained booed incessantly in his return to Yankee Stadium with the Mets. He appeared to take the cruel reception in stride by doffing his helmet to the group earlier than his first at-bat, however Soto is hitting solely .114 (5-for-44) with one extra-base hit since.
Most superior metrics counsel Soto is hitting into exhausting luck. He ranks among the many ninetieth percentile in a number of classes at Baseball Savant, although his bat velocity ranks within the 73rd percentile, down from the 94th percentile final season.
Soto made three outs on balls hit not less than 99 mph in Tuesday night time’s 6-4 win over the White Sox.
“Yesterday was an ideal instance of his season up to now: 0-for-4 with three balls [almost] 100 mph,” Mendoza mentioned with a chuckle Wednesday morning. “Exhausting to elucidate. Nevertheless it’s baseball.
“Too good of a hitter. Too good of a participant. He’ll be Juan Soto right here.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
