In December of last year, when it was reported that MLB superstar Juan Soto had signed a historic 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, the baseball world erupted with questions. Was he worth it? Could he thrive under the scrutiny of New York? The deal made Soto the face of the franchise, but the weight of expectation was enormous.

The early part of his first season in Queens was rocky. Soto appeared to be pressing, with questions swirling about his mechanics, his stance, and even his mindset in the cauldron of New York City. Yet as the summer progressed, Soto showed exactly why Steve Cohen and the Mets invested so heavily in him. He ironed out the flaws, regained his rhythm, and was rewarded with National League Player of the Month honors in June.

That resurgence has continued into the stretch run, where Soto has been central to New York’s fight for the final Wild Card spot. The Mets’ lineup has leaned on him to spark the top of the order, and he has responded with MVP-caliber production. His ability to blend patience with power has given New York an edge in games that demand star quality.

On Friday night at Citi Field, the faithful witnessed another chapter in Soto’s young legacy. In the bottom of the fourth inning against his former team, the Washington Nationals, Soto turned on a sweeper from left-hander PJ Poulin and launched it deep into center field. The swing was effortless, the ball’s trajectory majestic. It wasn’t just any home run. It was Soto’s 42nd of the season, a new career high.

A NEW CAREER-HIGH 42 HOME RUNS FOR JUAN SOTO!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/hYmUFy0SlV

— SNY (@SNYtv) September 20, 2025

The moment carried symbolism. To do it against Washington, the club where he debuted and became a phenom, only heightened its meaning. More importantly, the milestone underscored how thoroughly Soto has answered the doubts from earlier this year.

Soto now sits with a .265 batting average, 42 home runs, 103 runs batted in, and 34 stolen bases in 547 at-bats. That blend of power and speed is rare in today’s game, making him the only Mets player to eclipse both 40 home runs and 30 steals in the same season. His .931 OPS is a reminder that while his average has dipped from past years, his ability to drive the ball and get on base remains elite.

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For a Mets franchise that has too often lived in frustration, Soto’s emergence provides real hope. New York has struggled with consistency, yet Soto has been the constant force that keeps them in contention. His combination of discipline and dynamism gives the team an offensive anchor as they push into October.