Despite Rough First Half, Mets Can Take Solace In Having Juan Soto

The New York Mets entered the 2026 campaign with big dreams and postseason aspirations. Fast-forward three and a half months, and it’s safe to say that the season has been a complete disaster. They entered the All-Star break with a 40-57 record, the second-worst in the National League.

Obviously, the Mets expected to be at or near the top of their division at this point, not at the bottom. The Washington Nationals, one of the worst teams in the league in recent seasons, are eight games ahead of them. Eight.

In the middle of all the disappointment, anger, frustration, and sadness associated with the Mets this year, All-Star outfielder Juan Soto has managed to keep his side of the bargain. He is paid to perform like one of the best hitters in MLB, and he has done just that.

Even after missing a few games with a calf injury, Soto’s first half has been nothing short of amazing. He is slashing .290/.405/.562 with a 163 wRC+ that ranks fourth in the league among qualified hitters and second in the Senior Circuit behind James Wood’s 166.

Juan Soto Is Still A Top-Tier Offensive Machine

Here are some of Soto's National League ranks heading into the second half:

Batting average: .290 (15th)

On-base percentage: .405 (2nd)

Slugging percentage: .562 (2nd)

wOBA: .408 (2nd)

xwOBA: .432 (2nd)

BB%: 16.5 (2nd)

K%: 12.9 (9th)

fWAR: 2.9 (12th)

Not too shabby, huh? It has to be heartbreaking for the Mets to have such a gifted offensive player and have nothing to show for it in the standings, but such is life in the competitive National League. New York made countless roster construction mistakes and is paying a hefty price for them, but none of what has happened to this point is Soto’s fault.

Soto might not be a vocal leader. He might not be close friends with everybody in the clubhouse. But he doesn’t have to be those things. He just has to work hard, set an example for the young, up-and-coming hitters, and do his thing on the field. And that’s exactly what he does.

At a time in which there are few certainties on the Mets, the organization knows that it can count on their big investment to play to the top of his abilities night in and night out. Throughout his Queens tenure thus far, Soto is slashing a jaw-dropping .272/.399/.537 with a .936 OPS, a 161 OPS+, 64 home runs, and 45 stolen bases in a year and a half. He's everything the team has paid him to be.

Francisco Lindor might be struggling with the aftermath of his hamate bone surgery, and the young hitters, except A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge, might have failed to establish themselves as viable contributors. The pitching staff might be among the most inconsistent in baseball, with a 4.27 ERA that ranks 18th among 30 squads. Soto, however, is there in every game, representing a huge threat for opposing pitchers and showing the mental toughness, strength, and immense talent to produce even in adverse circumstances.

Many fans are surely mad or disappointed at Steven Cohen and, mainly, David Stearns for some of their offseason decisions in the last two years. And yet, you can be sure that getting Soto was, and is, one of the best things they have done for the franchise since taking over.