The New York Mets had one of the worst collapses in MLB history, but even through all that, there was one man who was shining. Juan Soto was the one man who was doing his job while the rest of the team was trying to find themselves. Many expected him to hit a slump after he left the Yankees, and he did. But the comeback was ever so strong, and there might be a reason for it.

In a recent interview, ex-Mets coach Eric Chavez discussed how he helped Juan Soto and Carlos Mendoza make small changes to improve Soto’s performance. Chavez said, “There were times… if we could just get him to swing… Instead of doing that… slide him in the leadoff spot. He still gets on base at a 40% clip… can be just as dynamic in the leadoff spot, as Shohei… I think about leading him off.”

Juan Soto’s first few months with the Mets were nothing short of frustrating to watch. By late May, he was hitting just .224 with a .745 OPS, going homerless for more than two weeks and hitless across a 0-for-16 stretch. The discipline that once defined him suddenly looked like hesitation, and every at-bat felt like he was trying to rediscover his rhythm.

But something changed as the summer rolled in, and the familiar version of Soto resurfaced. He found a better balance between patience and aggression, swinging more selectively early in counts without losing control of the zone. His chase rate dropped to an elite 16.5 percent, and by season’s end, he finished at .263 with 43 homers, 105 RBI, 120 runs, and a .921 OPS.

Even with Eric Chavez gone, his fingerprints are still on Soto’s evolution as a hitter. The quiet suggestion to attack early, while staying true to his strengths, seems to have stuck. Chavez helped Juan Soto understand that discipline doesn’t mean passivity, and that lesson has carried into what now feels like the prime of his career.

Maybe the New York Mets fell apart, but Juan Soto refused to crumble with them. His consistency became the lone bright spot in a season defined by chaos and confusion.

If only the Mets had the same plate discipline as Soto, they’d still be playing.

Nick Castellanos has his say on Juan Soto and the Mets not making the postseason

In baseball, money doesn’t always buy success, but it sure makes for good conversation. Nick Castellanos didn’t hold back when asked about one of the sport’s priciest experiments: Juan Soto and the New York Mets.

The Phillies outfielder offered a pointed take on a team that spent hundreds of millions chasing glory, only to watch the postseason slip through their fingers.

Nick Castellanos reflected on the Mets’ season, noting their struggles despite massive financial investment. “You’re always a little bit surprised when a team goes out and spends $760 million on one player and doesn’t make the playoffs,” he said.

He highlighted how baseball remains unpredictable, even when talent like Juan Soto joins a roster. Castellanos’s remarks came ahead of the Phillies’ NLDS matchup against the Dodgers, offering a candid league perspective.

Soto’s individual season was impressive, hitting .263 with 43 home runs, yet the Mets collapsed late. From leading the division in early August to finishing thirteen games behind the Phillies, the team’s decline shocked fans and players alike.

Nick Castellanos’ words remind fans that even Juan Soto cannot carry a team alone. The Mets’ $765 million gamble became a vivid lesson in baseball’s cruel unpredictability. For Phillies supporters, the collapse offers amusement, proving money rarely guarantees postseason success or happiness.