New York Mets star Juan Soto is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Saturday after Friday night’s exit vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers. He exited the game during the sixth inning with a nagging left calf soreness.
Mets interim manager Andy Green said that there’s a possibility of putting Soto on the injured list for a second time this season. He’s been nursing this injury for more than a week. It initially started during a June 16 game in Philadelphia and appears to have flared up recently.
“Yeah, he said a recurrence of symptoms in the left calf. We certainly hoped we were behind it, and done talking about this. But he felt it pushing off, going to second base there when he was on the bases,” Andy Green said.
•
“I know it’s frustrating for him, frustrating for us, and everybody. I think any time you get an image, you’re concerned; concerned enough to go do it. So we’ll wait till tomorrow and figure out what we’re dealing with.”
Before Friday’s game, Green said that “it’s improving,” and hopefully they can put it behind them. However, things don’t appear to be positive now. Following Juan Soto’s exit, Jorge Polanco took his place in the lineup, making his third plate appearance.
Mets face challenge of replacing Juan Soto’s offensive impact
New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto’s injury concerns have become a notable storyline for the team this season. Before 2026, he had not been listed on the IL since 2021.
With the $765M star sidelined, the Mets might turn to rookie Carson Benge, while Tyrone Taylor and Luis Robert Jr. could add in outfield depth. The Mets had already moved Soto from right field to left field this season as part of their defensive changes.
However, the bigger concern is the offensive power they’ll lose from the lineup with Juan Soto now being unavailable. While the Mets can fill his position on the field, replacing the impact of one of baseball’s most dangerous hitters remains a much tougher task.
So far in the season, Soto has hit 21 home runs while averaging .283 with a .947 OPS and a .408 on-base percentage in 293 at-bats. The team is currently ranked fifth in the National League East with a 43-61 record.
Edited by Shyam Kamal
