Juan Soto Strikes Out During First Game With Mets, But $765M Man Remains Unfazed

The New York Mets lost their first game of the 2025 season to the Houston Astros, 1-3. Juan Soto went 1-for-3, walking twice, and eventually struck out on a full count with two runners on. For the Mets fan looking to diagnose too early – or the rival fan ready to jump on any weakness – it’s suddenly easy to be hopeless about the $765 million man.

When he went to the plate in the ninth inning, Soto represented the game-winning run.

After being shut out for eight innings, the Mets had put together a string of plays – Starling Marte singled, Tyrone Taylor singled and Luisangel Acuña walked – that saw the bases loaded. After a strikeout by Hayden Senger, star shortstop Francisco Lindor hit a sacrifice fly that gave the Mets their first run of the game.

Soto went to the plate with two outs and runners on the corners, and immediately drew ahead of the Astros’ five-time All Star Josh Hader, who delivered three consecutive balls to begin the at-bat. Hader recovered, dealing two strikes, before uncorking a slider. Soto whiffed, and the game ended.

Following the game, Soto admitted his own fault and gave credit to Hader, but never sounded too down.

“We all want to do something in a big spot,” Soto said. “We’re all trying to get the knock and we’re all trying to bring the runs in. Try to help the team either way. But for me, I don’t mind taking a walk right there. It’s Pete [Alonso] behind me, and he’s a really good power hitter, so I think we have a better chance right there, lefty-righty matchup. [Hader] just got me in that situation.”

“I was expecting to win the game, but definitely it’s not how we want it,” he said. “For me, it was a good experience.”

It’s Opening Day, so the strikeout was bound to be a story. The season still has 161 games to go for Soto and the Mets, though, and if Soto can settle in and help his team win some games, there won’t be much for Mets fans to complain about.

The Mets play the Astros again on Friday night.