The New York Mets‘ 2026 MLB season begins with a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with Opening Day being March 26 for manager Carlos Mendoza and his team. New York is under a lot of pressure after the way the 2025 season ended, when they failed to make the playoffs.
One of the players who will need to have a major season to help the Mets reach the postseason is Juan Soto. The 27-year-old, who is switching positions going from right to left field, is entering Year 2 with the Mets and will look to make this season a more successful one.
Soto finished the 2025 season with a .263 average, collecting 152 hits while blasting 43 home runs. He recorded 105 RBIs and 120 runs across 160 games and added a sixth Silver Slugger to his resume, per StatMuse.
Ahead of a new season, WFAN’s Tommy Lugauer shared a blunt message for Soto, noting that the Mets star will be the player who wins the NL MVP in 2026.
“I believe Juan Soto is going to win the National League MVP this year,” Lugauer said in a March 25 video from WFAN. “He’s already called the shot. He’s already called out [Shohei] Ohtani. He says he’s coming for the MVP, and I believe Juan Soto is going to get the NL MVP. Soto is going to hit the ground running, pillar to post. He’s going to have a monster year.”
Mets’ Team Success Could Help Juan Soto’s NL MVP Case
Moreover, Lugauer notes that potential team success will aid Soto’s pursuit of an NL MVP. The Mets star finished third in the voting last season despite New York missing the playoffs, so a postseason berth, along with monster numbers, will fuel an MVP candidacy.
“Remember, third in the MVP last year, and that was when he started off the season not the way we all expected it, and he still managed to get third in the MVP,” Lugauer added. “I feel like you’re gonna see Juan Soto here with a better lineup than he was in last year. I think it’s a lineup that’s going to be more clutch, more gamers, and I think it’s going to benefit Soto.
“You are going to see a man on a mission, a guy that is gunning for the MVP, and a team that’s going to win a division. So there’s going to be team success, and it’s going to be led by Juan Soto as he puts together an MVP season, and the Mets will finally have an MVP.”
Juan Soto Backs Kodai Senga Ahead of 2026 Season
Soto is also showing his leadership skills before Opening Day, giving a vote of confidence to veteran starting pitcher Kodai Senga. The outfielder is backing Senga and giving the veteran a confidence boost as the pitcher looks to stay healthy in 2026 and be one of the reasons why New York finds itself back in the postseason later this fall.
“That’s our ace,” Soto told reporters on March 19 (h/t SNY). “If he stays healthy, he’s going to help the team go all the way. He has the stuff to do it. He’s got to try to keep himself in the game.”
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