PORT ST. LUCIE — As Juan Soto prepares to conclude his first spring coaching in a Mets uniform, his objectives have been fulfilled.
He’s in form.
His swing is the place he desires it.
He’s change into a part of the crew.
“My body feels great — I am in a good spot,” Soto instructed The Publish on Saturday. “I am in shape, so I feel good to start the season.”
For a second straight 12 months, his debut with a brand new crew will happen in Houston.
Final season, Soto performed his first recreation with the Yankees at Minute Maid Park and reached base 3 times to assist his crew to victory.
He has already begun to contemplate what Thursday will convey.
“Opening Day with another team,” he mentioned. “I am happy to be a part of it, and I hope it’s going to be like that all year.”
Soto homered in his first plate look this spring and hasn’t eliminated his foot from the accelerator. It’s been the sort of gown rehearsal the Mets may need anticipated following his arrival in December on a file $765 million contract for 15 years.
This spring he owns a .306/.409/.694 slash line with a team-leading 4 homers and 9 RBIs.
Behind the scenes, the 26-year-old outfielder has lived as much as his status.
“He’s just confirming everything, because you see all the incredible stuff he’s done in the game and he does all the little things,” Pete Alonso mentioned. “He’s tremendous constant in his work, whether or not or not it’s within the weight room, coaching room, cage. The thought technique of getting higher each single day. Simply seeing him work and go about his enterprise each single day, it simply confirms what I assumed.
“And it’s awesome, because we have been on the receiving end of how good a player he’s been for the last six years that I have been here. He’s one of those guys that can change the game at any moment.”
Soto was requested for his takeaways from his first spring coaching with the membership.
“The coaches are big-time coaches and the staff, the way they have been treating me, I think it’s huge for me,” Soto mentioned.
Within the clubhouse and on the sector, Soto’s gravitational pull on the younger gamers has been arduous to overlook. A type of gamers, Brett Baty — whose locker is adjoining to Soto’s — is having fun with a breakout spring that has positioned him to change into the crew’s beginning second baseman in Jeff McNeil’s absence.
It’s the identical Baty who obtained a $92,000 automobile from Soto early in camp as a present for surrendering jersey No. 22 to him.
“It’s incredible what [Baty] has been doing and I am excited,” Soto mentioned. “He has a big chance to make the team and I am looking forward to seeing him doing whatever he’s doing right now and seeing it during the season.”
Francisco Lindor’s bat has been quiet this spring, however the different Mets cornerstone has impressed Soto together with his work ethic.
“The way he goes about his things I think is impressive,” Soto mentioned. “How much he works and how much he puts into it.”
Soto’s presence has been noticeable, in accordance with Starling Marte.
“When these young players can have someone like that talk to them, whether it’s about controlling the strike zone or just talking baseball, I think he can do a lot of good things,” Marte mentioned.
Alonso, who’s 4 years older than Soto however debuted within the main leagues a season after the All-Star outfielder, mentioned it’s straightforward to mistake Soto for any individual a lot older.
“People think he is older because this is his seventh or eighth year,” Alonso mentioned. “It’s like, ‘Well, he’s been around for a long time, but he’s only 26 years old.’ People think he is older than he is.”
