Mets’ Juan Soto Says He Was ‘Pitched Differently Last Year,’ Reflects On Hitting Without Aaron Judge

Well into the MLB season, the New York Mets are sitting pretty at the top of the NL East standings. That spot has been spurred by a lot of outstanding performances – first baseman Pete Alonso is batting .365 right now with 21 RBI, tied for second in the league – but one hitter who’s been conspicuously absent from the score sheets is the Mets’ prime offseason acquisition, superstar Juan Soto.

Soto, who signed a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets in December, has chipped in just two hits in the team’s past five games. He has seven RBI and 12 strikeouts, with one of those coming as he represented the game-winning run on Opening Day.

Soto was candid about the transition from last season’s stint with the Yankees to this year when he talked to the New York Post. “I had the best hitter in baseball batting behind me,” he said. “I was getting attacked and more pitches in the strike zone, fewer intentional walks, and things like that. I was pitched differently last year.”

That “best hitter,” Aaron Judge, has more than justified that characterization this season. He leads all players with a .409 batting average and 1.322 OPS, and he’s tied with Alonso with 21 RBI. Even as Alonso has also been fearsome to pitch against this season, there’s no denying that pitchers have indeed changed their tactics based on the batters around Soto.

According to Statcast, just 43.2% of pitches Soto has seen this year have been in the strike zone. If the trend holds, that would be the lowest mark of his career, down from 46.4% last year with the Yankees.

This change in pitching has certainly contributed to Soto’s overall hitting contributions this season. He’s being walked consistently – giving him an on-base percentage of .367 this season despite his hitting woes. Regardless of his current struggles, though, barely a tenth of the season has gone by. There’s no reason to believe Soto won’t become the offensive weapon he’s shown in the past.

As a bonus, Soto also has a vote of confidence from Judge.

“He’s got probably one of the best hitters in the game right now with what Alonso is doing,” Judge said. “It’s been fun to watch. He’s hitting close to .400, driving the ball all over the field and driving guys in. They’re gonna be just fine. I’ve watched him in the league for so many years and getting a chance to see him up close — he can look at what I did last April for an example.

“He just needs to keep being himself. He’s going to be just fine.”