Carlos Mendoza, the manager of the New York Mets, has revealed that he plans to sit down with Juan Soto to address concerns about the player’s lack of hustle during the team’s recent game against the Boston Red Sox. In the sixth inning of the match, Soto hit a ball that he believed would be a home run, only to see it fall short due to the strong wind at Fenway Park. Despite the setback, Soto failed to run out of the box, resulting in him settling for a long single instead. Mendoza expressed his disappointment, stating, “He thought he had it, but with the wind and all that, and in this ballpark — anywhere, but in particular in this one, with that wall right there — you’ve got to get out of the box. So, yeah, we’ll discuss that.”
Soto, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by the incident, defending his effort level by claiming that he has been hustling hard. However, this is not the first time Soto’s hustle has come into question, as he also appeared to lack full effort in a play during the series against the New York Yankees. The scrutiny on Soto has intensified since signing a record-breaking contract with the Mets in the offseason, with expectations high for the superstar player to deliver. Despite his overall productivity in the 2025 season, Soto has fallen short of his usual standards, particularly in terms of power, having hit more double plays than home runs. The pressure is on for Soto to return to form, especially as the Mets have slipped out of first place following their recent losses.
It’s not really clear why Juan Soto’s hustle is being questioned, but it seems like Carlos Mendoza is taking the matter seriously. Soto’s perceived lack of effort during key plays has raised concerns among fans and the management alike. With the Mets facing a tough season and expectations high for Soto, the spotlight is firmly on the young player to step up his game and deliver the results expected of him. Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like Soto’s underperformance in certain areas is causing some tension within the team. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Soto to see if he can live up to the hype and help lead the Mets to success.
