On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto exited the team’s 7-1 loss to the San Diego Padres at Petco Park after fouling a ball off the top of his left foot in the fourth inning. The injury occurred during his at-bat against Padres starter Ryan Bergert.
The foul ball hit Soto near the toe area. As soon as he got struck, he grimaced and hopped on his right foot seven times before lowering himself to one knee. Mets trainer Joe Golia came out to assess the injury, performing an on-field examination for signs of structural damage.
After the initial evaluation, Soto returned to the batter’s box and completed his plate appearance by grounding out to second baseman Jake Cronenworth, who made a diving stop. When Soto attempted to run to first base, he showed continued discomfort and a pronounced limp. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza removed him from the game before the start of the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Mets announced that Soto had sustained a left foot contusion and ruled him out for the remainder of the game.
- Juan Soto exited the Mets’ 7-1 loss to the Padres after fouling a ball off his left foot in the fourth inning.
- X-rays showed no fracture, and Soto has been diagnosed with a foot contusion. He is listed as day-to-day.
- The Mets, now 62–46, are cautiously optimistic but may rest Soto until they return to New York.
Mets Confirm Negative X-Rays on Juan Soto’s Left Foot
Following his exit, Soto underwent X-rays. The imaging returned negative, indicating that there were no fractures. Mets officials diagnosed the injury as a contusion and listed Soto as day-to-day.
“That’s good news there,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza after the game. “So he’s day-to-day. We’ll see where we’re at for tomorrow, to see if he’s going to be available for the lineup.”
Soto, who wore a compression sock on his left foot postgame, said the area felt numb and slightly stiff.
Juan Soto was visited by the Mets’ athletic trainers after fouling a ball off his leg.
Soto finished the at-bat and grounded out. pic.twitter.com/sgtJjtz45j
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 30, 2025
“I think it’s gonna be good,” Soto told reporters. “We just got to get the swelling down. When the swelling goes down, I think we’re gonna be fine. The X-rays are negative, so it’s a good sign.”
He added that he attempted to play through the discomfort but ultimately could not push off effectively after making contact and trying to run.
“Definitely when I swung, the last moment, I tried to run and tried to push and couldn’t do it,” Soto said. “We’ll just take our time and see how it goes. At the end, we decided to not keep pushing.”
Mendoza said that Soto’s status for the series finale in San Diego will depend on how he feels the following morning.
“It’s too early to tell. Usually when you get it like that, and he got it good, it’s usually maybe a couple of days,” Mendoza said. “We just got to see how he responds and he wakes up tomorrow morning and we’ll go from there.”
According to Mendoza, the team’s medical staff does not expect additional imaging, such as an MRI or CT scan, to be necessary.
Sportsbooks Adjust Mets, Juan Soto Betting Odds
Juan Soto’s injury occurred while he was batting .248 with a .382 on-base percentage and a .488 slugging percentage. He had played 107 games in the 2025 season with 25 home runs, 62 RBIs, 75 runs, and a career-high 15 stolen bases.
Prior to the injury, Soto’s odds to win the National League MVP were listed at +6000 on DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and BetRivers. Earlier in the season, CBS Sports reported that Soto’s MVP odds had been as short as +2000. Covers reported that Soto accounted for 8.1% of total handle in the NL MVP betting market, behind Shohei Ohtani, who remains the odds-on favorite at –2000 to –2500.
After signing Juan Soto in December 2024 to a 15-year, $765 million contract, the Mets’ World Series odds improved from +1400 to +800 across multiple sportsbooks. As of July 30, 2025, DraftKings listed the Mets at +750 to win the World Series and +390 to win the National League pennant. For the National League East title, the Mets and Phillies were nearly even, with odds ranging from –110 to –115. The Mets’ odds to make the postseason stood at –5000 on BetMGM.
Reports from Action Network and the New York Post also referenced potential trade acquisitions that could influence future betting markets. Players mentioned in speculation included Sandy Alcántara, Zac Gallen, Luis Robert Jr., and Cedric Mullins.
Mets Restructure Outfield and Fall Behind Padres Late
When Soto exited in the fourth inning, Jeff McNeil shifted from center to right field, and Starling Marte played in right for the first time since being activated from the injured list with a right knee bruise. Tyrone Taylor and Luisangel Acuña covered center field, with Acuña making a sliding catch to rob Xander Bogaerts of a hit. Acuña had just two innings of prior Major League experience in center field before this appearance.
At the time of Soto’s exit, the Padres led 1-0 following an RBI single by Jackson Merrill in the first. The Mets tied the game 1-1 in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly from Marte. However, the Padres broke the game open in the seventh with a two-RBI double by Elias Díaz and a three-run home run by Manny Machado. The loss followed a walk-off defeat in the series opener on Monday, which snapped the Mets’ seven-game winning streak.
José Buttó and Chris Devenski allowed six runs combined in the sixth and seventh innings. The Mets now sit at 62–46, maintaining a slight lead in the National League East standings.
