It was only the last year when everybody saw Juan Soto shining in New York Yankees pinstripes as he helped season-opening victory against the Houston Astros. Fast forward to this year, and Soto is back in Houston.
However, this time, he’s wearing the colors of the Yankees’ crosstown rivals’ New York Mets. Unfortunately for him and Mets fans, the game didn’t go as well. Soto faced Astros closer Josh Hader again; he struck out to end the game, handing the Mets a 3-1 loss.
It got the Mets fans reeling over the $765 million price tag and venting their frustration.
However, Boomer Esiason, a popular analyst on WFAN, has stirred up some conversation at the right time with his bold comment on Soto.
“I think there’s three athletes in baseball that move the needle… That would be Shohei Ohtani, the great Aaron Judge, and Paul Skenes… I don’t think [Juan Soto] moves the needle, I think he’s a great baseball player… I think they way overpaid for him, but that’s their money and that’s my team and I want us to do well and I want them to win,” Boomer said.
Boomer says Juan Soto is not a "needle mover," and the Mets "way overpaid" 😳@WFANmornings pic.twitter.com/q8W6bz6mpG
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) March 28, 2025
Even though Esiason acknowledges that Soto is a fantastic player, he thinks the Mets may have overpaid for him. He listed Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Paul Skenes as the true difference-makers in baseball.
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Also Read:Juan Soto And Bobby Witt Jr. Dethrone Shohei Ohtani And Aaron Judge As MVP Favorites For 2025
Juan Soto Sounds Positive Despite An Unfortunate Debut Game
In the debut game that didn’t go quite as planned, Juan Soto saw his first outing with the New York Mets end in disappointment.
The Astros had a comfortable 3-0 lead for much of the game, but in the ninth inning, Francisco Lindor brought some hope with a sacrifice fly that made the score 3-1. With two outs and runners on first and third, Soto stepped up to the plate.
He faced off against Astros closer Josh Hader. After starting with three balls, Soto unfortunately struck out, and just like that, the game was over.
After the final out, Soto shared his thoughts on the tough loss.
“I was expecting to win the game, definitely is not how we wanted. They’re a really good team over there. For me, it was a good experience. These guys are amazing. We’ve been having a good time since spring training, so we’ve just got to bring that all the way,” Soto said.
"For me, it was a good experience. These guys are amazing. We've been having a good time since spring training, so we've just got to bring that all the way."
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 27, 2025
Juan Soto was asked about getting to make his Mets debut: pic.twitter.com/JGpVWwgbR3
Soto finished 1-for-3 with two walks, but that ninth-inning strikeout wasn’t exactly what he (or the fans) were hoping for. Especially after he signed a historic $765 million deal in the offseason. However, there’s no doubt he’ll have plenty of chances to shine as the season continues.
While getting a win in his first game with the Mets would have been a nice bonus, it’s far from a major concern. Remember, the Mets started last season by losing their first five games and still made a run to the National League Championship Series. So, here’s to Juan Soto and the Mets bouncing back and making some exciting plays ahead!
Also Read:Juan Soto Drops A Bombshell About The Mets’ Contract Offer In Latest Video
