New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto expressed determination to return to play this season despite ongoing injury setbacks that have limited his time on the field. Soto, 27, is currently sidelined with a Grade 2 calf strain—the second such injury he has sustained since April—raising doubts about his availability during a challenging and disappointing season for the Mets.
Speaking ahead of Monday’s game against the Atlanta Braves, Soto said he intends to make a comeback before the season concludes. “I feel I’m young enough to recover quickly,” he said, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding his recovery timeline. “We’re just taking it day by day right now... I’m hurt right now, but I’m hoping to be back soon and help as much as I can.”
Soto’s most recent injury occurred during Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers when he aggravated the calf strain while running the bases. The severity of the current injury exceeds that of the earlier strain, which sidelined him for nearly three weeks in the spring. Prior to this season, Soto had been remarkably durable, missing just 16 games across four years and having last landed on the injured list in 2021.
Despite his health struggles, Soto has continued to produce at an elite level. He leads the Mets with 21 home runs and 52 runs batted in, maintaining the highest on-base percentage in the National League (.404) and the third-best OPS (.947) in Major League Baseball. His performance comes amid battling additional hand and elbow discomfort, compounding the challenges of a season marked by both personal and team setbacks.
The Mets are enduring one of their most difficult campaigns in years, with a roster expected to be heavily altered at the trade deadline and on pace for the franchise’s first last-place finish in more than two decades. Interim manager Andy Green voiced support for Soto’s ambition to return despite the risks involved. “We want to get to the other side of the injury risk and get him completely healthy before we even engage in that conversation,” Green said. “There’s enough of a season left that it’s worthwhile to get one of our best players on the field and go win baseball games.”
Green emphasized a cautious approach to Soto’s comeback but acknowledged the player’s strong desire to return. “It’s his burning passion to be on the baseball field playing baseball, and that passion is one of the things that makes him really good at what he does,” Green added. “You would expect that passion to push him to get back in September at some point in time, who knows if sooner.”
With more than a decade remaining on his historic contract, Soto’s health will be a key factor for the Mets as they evaluate their long-term competitiveness. For now, the star outfielder remains hopeful of contributing in the final weeks of a difficult season.