NEW YORK -- At this point, Juan Soto is the Mets’ offense.
That may be a bit of an exaggeration … but only a bit. Soto’s solo homer in the first inning Wednesday gave the Mets a lead they would never relinquish in a 4-2 win over the Reds at Citi Field. In going deep, he became the 12th different Met to hit at least eight homers over a 12-game span, joining the likes of Gary Carter, Mike Piazza and other franchise greats. Before Soto, no one had accomplished the feat since Neil Walker more than a decade ago.
Soto is, in short, on a bona fide heater. Over New York’s past eight games, he has accounted for nearly half of its RBIs despite not playing in two of those contests. At a time when the Mets are struggling to find offense from anyone other than Soto, their best and most expensive hitter is at least holding up his end of the bargain.
“I’m just trying to do damage,” Soto said. “I can’t control if it’s going over the wall or not.”
Coming to the plate with the bases empty and two outs in the first inning, Soto launched an Andrew Abbott curveball a Statcast-projected 366 feet over the fence in right, giving him home runs in consecutive games since returning from illness on Tuesday. Six of his past eight hits have been homers, in fact, doubling his season total to 12. Only eight National League hitters have more, and all of them have played in at least nine more games than Soto, who missed two and a half weeks in April due to a right calf injury.
These types of hot streaks are not necessarily new for Soto, who has been one of the game’s most productive sluggers for the better part of a decade. But at a time when the Mets continue to search for answers at the plate, with eight runs in six games heading into Wednesday’s play, Soto’s production has stood in stark contrast to that of his teammates.
Eight homers over a 12-game stretch matches a career best for Soto, who unsurprisingly leads the Majors in that category, as well as slugging and OPS, since May 14.
“He’s locked in,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “And he’s one of the best, if not the best at what he does. … He’s just a special player doing his thing.”
On Wednesday, the Mets did find some additional offensive support from Eric Wagaman, who also homered, and Carson Benge, who had a pair of RBI hits to back a sometimes-shaky six-pitcher production. But it was Soto who gave them the lead, Soto who reached base three times on his homer, a single and a catcher’s interference, and Soto who remained the clear engine of this offense.
On the season, Soto is batting .301/.392/.594 in 39 games. His .986 OPS would lead the NL if he had enough at-bats to qualify.
“It’s special seeing him go to work every day,” Benge said. “Basically check a box that he’s going to hit a homer or do something cool that day.”
For Soto, this stretch has also unfolded while he’s managed a bout of mild right wrist discomfort, which hasn’t kept him out of the lineup but has nonetheless bothered him for weeks -- mostly on swings and misses.
His solution? Rather than swing and miss, bash balls over the fence.
“I just keep thinking to do damage every time,” Soto said. “The difference is the results. Sometimes I get the results. Sometimes I don’t. I just feel good. I’ve been seeing the ball well. I’ve been swinging the bat well. Just do damage whenever I can.”