Juan Soto is excited to face the Yankees this weekend as he returns to the Bronx as a Met.
The four-time All-Star starred for the Yankees last season as the team reached the World Series, but bolted across town in the winter to sign a mammoth $765million contract with the Mets.
And with boos expected this weekend at Yankee Stadium, Soto doesn’t seem overly concerned with the negative reaction he’s set to face.
‘I don’t mind,’ he told reporters on Wednesday night.
The 26-year-old has started a little slowly in Queens, as he’s slashing a .255/.380/.465 line to go along with eight home runs in 43 games.
However, he’s picked things up in May, producing a 1.077 OPS in 12 games as he gears up for a three-game series against the Yankees.
Juan Soto will return to Yankee Stadium on Friday as a member of the New York Mets
Soto is expected to be booed by Yankees fans after bolting for their crosstown rivals
Soto has started a bit slowly but has blasted five home runs in the month of May
‘He just is the same guy regardless of what the moment is, and he’s very consistent in his preparation,’ Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said, via The Athletic.
‘He enjoys the moment. He also doesn’t make more of it than it is, and he understands he’s got to keep himself focused and centered. And I think he does a very good job of that.’
Both the Mets and Yankees have thrived this season after Soto’s bombshell offseason move.
Without Soto, the reigning AL pennant winners haven’t skipped a beat, as they lead the AL East with a 25-18 record.
Aaron Judge has taken his game to even more ridiculous heights, as he’s batting .412 with 15 home runs thus far.
The Mets, though, have done even better, with their 28-16 record just a half game back of the Dodgers.
Soto was rested on Wednesday night as the Mets lost to the Pirates, but he’ll certainly be in the lineup when the Subway Series begins on Friday.
