Soto Returns, Mets Need Roster Unity

0:00It's April 23rd, this is New York Metz News Today, powered by AI Everything Happening With Your Team. I'm Cory with the Story. Juan Soto is back with the New York Metz after missing 15 games with the right calf strain. The 27-year-old outfielder got activated off the injured list on Wednesday, sliding in as the designated hitter against the Minnesota Twins. The team desperately needed him, entering that game on a brutal 12-game losing streak, with no real stand-in for his production. Before the injury, Soto was tearing it up with a 355 batting average, 4-12 on-base percentage, and 9-28 OPS over, 8 gains, plus 1 homer and 5 RBIs. He skipped a rehab entirely and stayed in Queens rehabbing while the squad hit the road, admitting he hadn't even chatted with teammates during their slump. Fans lit up social media with backlash over his comments, slamming the lack of leadership from a guy on the biggest deal in baseball history, a 15-year, $765 million contract.

1:02Many called him out for seeming checked out, especially with the Metz rocking the second highest payroll, but way underperforming this season. Soto is a four-time all-star and six-time silver slugger, one of the best hitters around, so his bat should stretch the lineup right away and help snap. This skid, still for the Metz to dig out of this hole, the whole roster has to flip the script and show up together starting now.