On Thursday, the New York Mets were forced to put infielder Marcus Semien on the injured list. Outfielder Juan Soto is hoping he doesn’t have to join him.
Soto was removed from Tuesday’s game with a back injury. He then missed both games of Wednesday’s doubleheader. There is no word on when he may return, via Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
“Marcus Semien goes on the Injured List with a hip flexor strain, Mets announce,” Heyman wrote. “Juan Soto (back) is still hoping to stay off the IL.”
If Soto still needs more time off after Wednesday, the Mets may decide an IL stint would be best for both franchise and team. But even in a down season, Soto wants to compete. The outfielder will be crucial in any success the Mets find.
Through his first 61 games in 2026, Soto is hitting .299 with 17 home runs, 38 RBIs and six stolen bases. He leads the team in batting average and home runs, ranking second in RBIs and third in stolen bases.
Despite those contributions, the Mets are entering Thursday 14.5 games back of the NL East lead with their 34-46 record. They’re nine games out of a Wild Card spot. New York’s hole may have already been dug. But if there’s one player that can help lead them towards the light, the Mets are hoping it’s Soto.
For the outfielder to play hero though, he needs to be on the diamond. With his current back injury, that hasn’t been possible. If the pain continues to linger, the IL may ultimately be in Soto’s future.
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