Juan Soto began September the same way he ended August: crushing major league pitching.
The superstar outfielder had a grand slam as part of a six-RBI explosion in the New York Metsâ 10-8 win over the Detroit Tigers on Labor Day.
Soto, who now has four homers in his last four games, produced a 1.009 OPS with 10 longballs in August.
While Sotoâs production hasnât always translated to winning baseball â New York entered Tuesday clinging to the final NL wild card spot â Soto acknowledged thereâs still time for the Mets to redeem themselves.
âThis is the month,â Soto said, via the New York Postâs Mike Puma.
Why Was Juan Soto the Metsâ Star in August?
Soto enjoyed a torrid month of August, slashing .277/.435/.574 with 10 homers, 22 RBI and 27 runs scored. His 1.009 OPS was the highest of any full calendar month this season besides June (1.196).
The Metsâ offense reaped the benefits. Their 177 runs scored and 53 home runs last month were both franchise records.
Despite that, the club largely underperformed. They went 11-17, including dropping three of four games to the Marlins to wipe away any reasonable hope of winning the NL East.
What is the Outlook for Juan Soto?
Despite a slow start, the 26-year-old Soto has been everything the Metsâ couldâve hoped for after signing a record 15-year, $765 million deal in December. Soto has 36 homers â five shy of his career-high with 24 games to play â 90 RBI and 26 stolen bases. He also leads the majors in walks (113) and ranks third in on-base percentage (.397) and runs scored (104).
And heâs not done.
Former All-Star outfielder Chris Young, who briefly played for the Mets in 2014, offered a bold outlook on Soto for September.
âYâall know what month it is? Itâs Soto September,â Young declared on MLB Networkâs âMLB Central.â âItâs something about the month of September that really gets the best players on their Ps and Qs. I really think we havenât really seen the big moment from Soto yet ⦠but weâre about to see him take over and show everyone in the world why the Mets valued him so much, why he was able to bring that (record) deal together.
âThe closer you get to the postseason, the more you can appreciate players like Soto.â
The four-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger joined the Mets after spending 2024 with the crosstown rival Yankees, where he slugged 41 homers and drove in 109 runs.
What Did Juan Soto Say About September?
Mondayâs win marked the start of a potentially season-defining 10-game road trip that includes stops in Cincinnati and Philadelphia. The Mets are 74-64, six games behind the first-place Phillies in the NL East but four games ahead of the Reds for the last wild card.
While the Mets have yet to play their best baseball, Soto said they still have everything in front of them.
âI feel like whoever gets hot in September,â Soto said, âis the team that goes all the way.â
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