Juan Soto hits 426-foot home run in first at-bat for Mets

New York Mets introduce Juan Soto at Citi Field | Press conference

New York Mets introduce Juan Soto at Citi Field | Press conference 12:02
Juan Soto homered in his first spring training at-bat for the New York Mets, hitting a solo shot to left-center field in the first inning against Houston on Saturday.

“I feel like everybody was really happy. I would say the worst reaction was (teammate) Jesse Winker, that I stepped on him,” Soto said. “He was really (in) pain, but he was happy at the same time.”

Soto also homered last year in his first spring training game with the New York Yankees, belting a three-run shot in the fourth inning of that matchup with Toronto.

He signed a record $765 million, 15-year contract this offseason, moving across New York from the Yankees to the Mets.

Mets beat Astros 6-2 in first spring training game

Soto hit second in the order Saturday, between Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, and drilled a 426-foot homer on a 2-1 pitch from left-hander Colton Gordon. The following inning, Soto drove in another run with a groundball. Those were his only plate appearances.

He raised his career spring training average to .304 with 14 home runs and an OPS of 1.017 in 87 games.

The Mets may have been even more encouraged by the performance of starter Clay Holmes, another player who moved from one New York team to the other. Holmes has started just four of his 311 big league appearances, but he is converting to a starter for the Mets and threw 34 pitches Saturday in three perfect innings.

Holmes struck out three.

The Mets went on to win 6-2.

    In:

  • MLB
  • Juan Soto

Related Posts

Braves listed among early favorites to trade for $13 million Padres superstar | Sporting News

Will the Atlanta Braves get involved in the trade sweepstakes for this stud pitcher?

What Red Sox Pitching Staff Could Look Like After Spring Training Injuries

If multiple pitchers fall behind before Opening Day, the Boston Red Sox have capable depth to sustain the pitching staff.

Rumored Nolan Arenado landing spot could come back to haunt the Yankees

After initially spurning the idea of joining the Houston Astros, Nolan Arenado has reportedly experienced a change of heart. The St. Louis Cardinals veteran thi

Cubs, Braves Among Potential Suitors In $56 Million Sandy Alcantara Trade Sweepstakes Read more at:

The Miami Marlins completely gutted their big league roster last season as they looked to speed up their rebuild. Just about every big league player with trade…

UPDATE: Orioles top free agent signing surprisingly absent from first spring training lineup

The Orioles have released their first spring training lineup of 2025 Baltimore Orioles Photo Day | Kevin C. Cox/GettyImages MLB Insider Jon Heyman Reveals MLB’s Biggest Offseason…

Braves’ Spencer Strider takes next step toward return, feels energized by it

Strider vowed to keep his curveball amid fan speculation that it caused his injury: “Those people, kindly, don’t have all the information.”