At Citi Field on Saturday, Juan Soto went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in the New York Mets’ 3-2 loss to the Texas Rangers. His seventh-inning blast to right field off Texas left-hander Hoby Milner gave the Mets a 2-0 lead, but the bullpen failed to preserve it. Tyler Rogers and Edwin Díaz allowed two runs in the eighth, and the Rangers added the deciding run against Díaz in the ninth. The loss was New York’s eighth consecutive defeat and its ninth in the last 10 games.
The homer was Soto’s 40th of the season, making it his second straight 40-homer campaign after hitting a career-high 41 with the Yankees in 2024. With 13 games left on the Mets’ schedule, he needs two more to surpass that total. Over his last 15 games, Soto has hit eight home runs and batted .393 (22-for-56) while adding nine stolen bases, 16 runs, and 18 RBI.
- Juan Soto became the first Mets player to record 40 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season.
- His seventh-inning blast gave the Mets a 2-0 lead, but the bullpen collapsed in a 3-2 loss to the Rangers.
- Soto now joins legends like Barry Bonds, Jeff Bagwell, and Shohei Ohtani in the rare 40-HR, 30-SB, 100-walk club.
First Mets Player With 40 Homers and 30 Steals
Soto’s milestone made him the first player in Mets history to reach 40 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season. Howard Johnson had 41 steals and 36 homers in 1989, but no Mets player had previously reached 40 in both categories.
“It’s great. … It’s really impressive,” Soto said after the game. “But we have bigger things out there in front of us that we have to go out there and get it.”
The 26-year-old became just the fifth Mets player to hit 40 home runs in a season, joining Pete Alonso (three times), Todd Hundley, Carlos Beltran, and Mike Piazza. Across Major League Baseball, this is the 16th season in which a player has reached both 40 home runs and 30 steals, a group that includes Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Shohei Ohtani.
Soto spoke earlier in the week about what the achievement would mean.“For me, it means a lot. It’s part of the journey of your career. But at the end, you’ve just got to think about the team. If you accomplish that, what we’re trying to do here is just help the team as much as I can.”
Soto’s Season in Rare Company
Beyond Mets history, Soto’s production in 2025 has placed him among the most exclusive clubs in the sport. With 32 stolen bases and 118 walks, he has joined Barry Bonds and Jeff Bagwell as the only players to finish a season with at least 40 home runs, 30 steals, and 100 walks.
He is also the ninth player in Major League Baseball history to hit 40 home runs in consecutive seasons for different teams. The list includes Shohei Ohtani with the Angels and Dodgers, Nelson Cruz with the Orioles and Mariners, Jim Thome with the Indians and Phillies, Alex Rodriguez with the Mariners and Rangers, Ken Griffey Jr. with the Mariners and Reds, Rafael Palmeiro with the Orioles and Rangers, Greg Vaughn with the Padres and Reds, and Andrés Galarraga with the Rockies and Braves.
In addition, Soto is only the third player, along with Cruz and Thome, to hit 40 home runs in his first season with more than one team. Cruz achieved the feat with the Orioles, Mariners, and Twins.
Speed, Efficiency, and Coaching Credit
Soto has expanded his game beyond power. Entering 2025, he had never stolen more than 12 bases in a single season across his first seven years in the majors. This year, he has recorded 32 steals on 35 attempts, a 91.4 percent success rate. He credited Mets first base coach Antoan Richardson for the improvement.
“It’s all the hard work we’ve been putting in since the beginning of the season,” Soto said. “Great job by Antoan. I really appreciate what he’s been doing with me and how he’s been working with me.”
Soto also singled with one out in the ninth inning on Saturday, attempting to spark a rally with the Mets trailing by one, but the team was unable to capitalize.
Betting Market Reaction to Mets’ Slide and Soto’s Run
Soto’s statistical season has drawn attention in the betting market, though his MVP odds reflect the gap behind Shohei Ohtani. At DraftKings, Soto is listed at +2500, while FanDuel posts him at +3000. Ohtani remains the overwhelming favorite at odds as short as -50000. Earlier in the year, Soto had been among the top three favorites, but despite his 40 home runs, 32 steals, and 118 walks, the award markets have shifted away from him.
Team prices have also moved with the Mets’ struggles. At BetMGM, New York is now -275 to make the postseason, compared with -325 last week. That adjustment lowers their implied probability from about 76.5 percent to 73.3 percent. Their World Series odds sit at +1800, placing them behind the Dodgers and other National League favorites. Covers has also reported that the Mets remain among the top five teams in betting ticket volume, showing that public interest continues even during the losing streak.
Sportsbooks and analysts have noted bullpen volatility as a factor in recent line movement. Manager Carlos Mendoza has shifted Sean Manaea into a piggyback bullpen role with Clay Holmes set to open against San Diego, while David Peterson and Jonah Tong are scheduled to follow in the rotation. The team also recalled Huascar Brazobán and optioned Justin Hagenman in an effort to stabilize relief depth.
Record Contract and Ongoing Team Struggles
Soto joined the Mets before the 2025 season on a 15-year, $765 million contract, the largest deal in Major League Baseball history. His $51 million annual salary leads the league, though Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers carries the highest average annual value.
While Soto’s production has matched expectations, the Mets’ season has not. The team is 21-30 since the All-Star break, and their eight-game losing streak has pushed them closer to missing the postseason. Despite the skid, Soto has expressed belief in the team.
“One hundred percent … this is a playoff team,” Soto said. “We just gotta stay with our composure, stay with our heads up and believe in ourselves and believe in what we have. Definitely we believe in every single guy in here, trying our best and trying to come through. We’re playing our a– off every night, it’s just not going our way.”
