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When a player is as talented as Juan Soto, even his “down” moments generate headlines. On the latest episode of “Baseball Bar-B-Cast,” hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman delved into the ongoing conversation surrounding Soto’s performance thus far for the 2025 New York Mets — and both hosts believe the concern about Soto is greatly exaggerated.
The Soto ‘slump’ that isn’t
For Mets fans who might be worried about Soto after a slightly “slow” start, just pause and look at the numbers. As Mintz points out, “Do you know what his OPS+ is right now? … It’s 137.”
Shusterman echoes the sentiment, highlighting how baseball discourse tends to blow any minor blip out of proportion for stars like Soto: “When we’re talking about these tiny April samples … superstars all over the place have 60 OPS+ through the first [few weeks]. They’re, like, actively crap, [but] you know, doesn’t happen with [Soto]. It doesn’t exist. He’s on base too often. And that’s why, you know, [he has the] highest floor in baseball.”
The bottom line: Even as Mets Twitter frets, Soto is performing at a level that’s 37% better than league average. Such a “struggle” would be a standout year for most MLB players.
As Mintz says, “That’s why Juan Soto is different. … The struggle, the strife, the worry is about a guy who is 37% better than the average hitter.”
Superstar standards and perspective
What Mintz and Shusterman are saying is that the discussion around Soto is more about expectations than reality. “Pretty bad for Juan Soto, but this is why Juan Soto is different,” Mintz states.
They also provide some long-term context, noting that last year, Aaron Judge appeared “like a bad dude” for a month, posting a .674 OPS through 22 games. Hot and cold streaks come for everyone, but the reality is that Soto’s “lows” surpass most players’ highs. What distinguishes Soto, according to the hosts, is not just his power but also his knack for getting on base and avoiding extended hitting slumps.
So if you’re following Mets games or browsing social media and come across concerned opinions about Soto, take it from “Baseball Bar-B-Cast:” There’s no need to worry.
“Juan Soto — he’ll be just fine. I wouldn’t be too concerned about him,” Shusterman concludes.
The real message? Enjoy the spectacle, and take a moment to admire the player.
For more on the Mets and the rest of the league, tune in to “Baseball-Bar-B-Cast” on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.