Before playing for the New York Mets this past winter, Juan Soto achieved new heights by agreeing to the biggest contract in baseball history, a 15-year, $765 million agreement.
The 26-year-old sensation has once again been unstoppable in his debut season with the Mets, recording a.247 batting average,.381 on-base percentage,.872 OPS, and 31 home runs. With two months left in the season, he has also struck a career-high 20 stolen bases.
Juan Soto’s Patience Pays Off as He Makes MLB History vs. Braves
In the top of the fifth inning of Friday’s game against the Atlanta Braves, Soto recorded his second walk of the game, earning his 100th walk of the season, further cementing his place in the record books.
Over the course of his eight-year career, he has hit 25 home runs and drawn 100 walks in six different seasons. This streak of domination is all the more astounding considering that the only two seasons he failed to reach that milestone were his 2018 debut, in which he played just 116 games, and the 2020 season, which was cut short due to the pandemic.
According to Sarah Langs, it was also the first time a player in MLB history had achieved the accomplishment six times before reaching 27.
Soto’s Elite Plate Discipline and Power Fuel Mets’ Playoff Hopes
One of Soto’s best qualities is still his plate discipline, and the superstars in the lineup surrounding him greatly benefit from his ability to work walks and get on base. He led the league in walks going into Friday’s game.
Soto’s ability to simultaneously infuse power makes him one of the sport’s most dangerous hitters, which is why the Mets made every effort to secure his long-term contract.
Soto’s ongoing offensive prowess must be seen throughout the rest of the season as the Mets face a pivotal stretch of the season, holding a slender 0.5-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds for the last NL wild card slot.
