Soto out of lineup, day to day with mild calf strain; no decision on IL yet
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SAN FRANCISCO -- Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday the news on Juan Soto was “mixed,” which is a whole lot better than the worst possible case a day after the franchise cornerstone strained his right calf while running the bases in New York's 10-3 win over the Giants.
An MRI Saturday morning revealed a minor strain, which was the “bad news” part of the mix. On the plus side, Soto was surprised with the imaging results because he felt so much better when he woke up Saturday morning. Likewise, Mendoza said he could not believe Soto was walking as well as he was when he saw him.
The manager termed Soto as day to day and said that, despite how well the left fielder feels, the team will determine how he responds to treatment over the next 48 to 72 hours. A placement on the injured list is not imminent, but Mendoza would not rule it out if Soto’s ailment lingers.
“I’ve experienced calf tightness before,” Soto said. “This is definitely not the worst I’ve felt. So I feel positive with that.”
He added this injury feels “kind of similar” to a left calf injury he sustained in 2022 while playing for the Nationals. He came out after five innings in that instance, but he started the next day.
Soto felt the right calf grab in the first inning Friday as he hit second base while running from first to third on a Bo Bichette single. Soto reported the injury to the medical staff after being forced out at home on a double-play comebacker from Brett Baty and was removed immediately.
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Soto said he would not rule out a return Sunday in the series and road-trip finale, but Mendoza does not appear eager to take that chance.
“I was surprised when I saw him today, the way he was moving around,” Mendoza said. “But the calf is tricky, so we’ll wait.”
Mendoza expects Baty to get most of the starts in left during Soto’s absence whenever regular center fielder Luis Robert Jr. starts. With Robert off Saturday, Mendoza preferred Baty in right and Jared Young in left.
Mendoza was not ready to discuss potential callups from Triple-A Syracuse should Soto land on the injured list, but he said 12-year Major Leaguer Tommy Pham is not close to ready after signing a Minor League contract with the Mets on March 26.
Pham is just beginning to ramp up his baseball work after signing late and not working through a normal Spring Training.