Juan Soto may not be living up to the stats on the back of his baseball card, but he’s still having an All-Star season.
Yet, when the New York Mets outfielder was initially snubbed from the upcoming Midsummer Classic, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza came to his defense.
Soto, who of course signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets this off-season, was not selected for the All-Star Game for the first time since 2019, his second year in the league.
Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz were named the Mets’ representatives for the All-Star Game, which will be played July 15 at Truist Park in Cobb County, Georgia.
Why Did Carlos Mendoza Say About Juan Soto’s All-Star snub?
Every year rightfully deserving baseball players are forced to sit home, or go on vacation, during the mid-July break due to the fact every team must have a representative.
But even though Soto has not yet been selected by either the fans or his peers, he still could be if a player drops out in the next week. Mendoza, Lindor and other high-profile Mets are holding out hope that happens.
“He’s an All-Star for us,” Mendoza said after the Mets’ win in Baltimore on Tuesday. “It’s frustrating, but I’m hoping in the next couple of days we hear something and he makes it.”
Soto has been player of consternation for Mets fans over the season’s first half, but the 26-year-old leads the majors in walks (72) and shares the Mets’ team lead in home runs (21) while boasting an incredible OPS+ of 162.
“What he’s done all year is just incredible, and the results are good enough,” Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes said, according to the Associated Press. “The consistency he’s showed up with, and the at-bats he’s taken, is more than an All-Star. He’s one of the best in the game and a big part of our lineup.”
Holmes has seen Soto’s consistency since last season, since they were teammates together with the New York Yankees. But Lindor, who like Soto has previously appeared in four All-Star Games, cited Soto’s scorching-hot month of June — Soto slashed .322/.474/.722 with 11 homers and 25 runs scored — and believes Soto belongs in Georgia.
“I hope he gets the recognition that he deserves,” Lindor said. “He had one of the best Junes, and … he’s just one of the best players in the league for a reason and he’s an All-Star and he should be there.
“Hopefully he makes it … so the four of us can go there and get booed [by Braves fans].”
What Did Juan Soto Say About His All-Star snub?
Soto is guaranteed to make nearly a billion over the next decade-and-a-half and has already banked more than $82 million over his first six major-league seasons in salary — not including endorsements or bonus funds as well.
Yet, when asked Soto could only think of the $100,000 bonus he would contractually gain if he did end up on the NL’s roster — even though the bonus would constitute 0.21 percent of his $46.875 million salary.
“It’s a lot of money on the table if I make it,” he said.
Mets’ Carlos Mendoza Sounds Off on Juan Soto All-Star Snub