January 1, Mets Star Forced Out Mid-Game — Injury Crisis Deepens

Wyatt’s Take

• Juan Soto left Friday’s game against the Dodgers in the sixth inning with a nagging calf injury that’s been plaguing him since mid-July
• The Mets gave their $765 million man time off this week to heal, but he’s still not right — now their only All-Star is sidelined again
• New York can’t catch a break as injuries pile up, and fans are left wondering if this season is slipping away

The New York Mets took another gut punch Friday night when their star outfielder Juan Soto had to leave the game early. The calf injury that’s been dogging him since July 16 flared up again, forcing the team to pull him in the sixth inning against the defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Soto drew two walks before the Mets made the call to shut him down. The team had already given him time off earlier this week trying to get ahead of the problem, but it clearly didn’t do the trick.

Before the game, interim manager Andy Green tried to put a positive spin on things.

“It’s improving for him. Hopefully after today, we don’t have to talk about it anymore.”

Well, so much for that. Now the Mets and their fans are back to worrying about when — or if — their franchise player will be healthy enough to stay on the field.

This isn’t just any player limping off the diamond. Soto was the only Met selected to the All-Star team this season, which tells you everything about how critical he is to this lineup. Through 84 games, he’s hitting .283 with 83 hits and 21 home runs.

The Mets are paying him like a generational talent — 15 years, $765 million, signed back in December 2024. Right now, they need him playing like one, and instead he’s dealing with a calf that won’t cooperate.

Fans took to social media to vent their frustration as the injury news hit. It’s hard to blame them. The Mets have been hammered by injuries all season, and losing Soto for any stretch of time could be the difference between competing and falling out of contention entirely.

The Dodgers, fresh off a White House visit to celebrate their championship, didn’t need any help. But they got it anyway as the Mets’ lineup took another hit.

Before the game, actress Emma Stone was at the ballpark filming a movie and even chatted with Soto. That might’ve been the highlight of his night, because everything went downhill from there.

Why It Matters

When you pay a guy three-quarters of a billion dollars, you expect him on the field. The Mets aren’t getting what they paid for right now, and that’s a problem. Injuries happen, but at some point you have to wonder if the team’s training staff is doing enough to keep their stars healthy. Middle America knows what it’s like to show up to work hurting — but when you’re making that kind of money, fans expect you to find a way to play through it or get right fast.