The New York Mets‘ hope to put Juan Soto‘s calf trouble behind them lasted six innings.
Soto, 27, exited Friday night’s series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field with what the team announced is “left calf soreness.”
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The left calf has bothered Soto for more than a week. He felt cramping midway through the Mets’ win in Philadelphia on July 16 and was pulled in the eighth inning. He has been limited to DH duties since, which is where he started on Friday. Interim manager Andy Green held him out of Wednesday’s finale in Milwaukee, which combined with Thursday’s off day was meant to give him two full days of rest heading into a 10-game homestand.
Before this season, Soto had not been on the injured list since 2021. Already this season, he missed 15 games with a right calf strain in April. He also left a June game against the Cubs with back tightness. Part of the equation for the Mets giving Soto a 15-year, $765 million contract was his youth and durability.
Covering the position is not a problem for the Mets. Soto moved from right field to left this season as part of the Mets’ defensive makeover, and the calf has kept him at DH for weeks. Rookie Carson Benge has been one of the few bright spots of the season, hitting .293 with 10 homers since late April. Tyrone Taylor and even Luis Robert Jr. can handle the outfield.
The issue is finding the offense the Mets lose when Soto is out of the lineup.
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The calf issues have not touched his production, which has been one of the only things in Queens worth watching. Soto is hitting .283 with a .404 on-base percentage, 21 home runs and 52 RBI, leads the team in homers and started in left field for the National League in the All-Star Game. He has cooled since the break, however, with three hits in his last 24 at-bats.
The Mets’ priority in a lost season is obvious. They need to protect Soto for the future.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Juan Soto injury update as Mets star exits Dodgers game
