Juan Soto selected as All-Star Game starter after being snubbed in ’25: “I just let it kind of motivate me’
ATLANTA — Juan Soto knows how to hold a grudge.
The Mets’ left fielder was named to his fifth MLB All-Star Game Saturday night, when starters were announced live on FOX. Soto was the sole player selected to represent the Mets at the 96th edition of the Midsummer Classic, which will take place July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
A year after being snubbed, Soto is back among the best in baseball. His exclusion from last year’s event stuck with him, and he used it as fuel to come back this season even better.
“I just fell short last year, definitely. I just let it kind of motivate me,” Soto said Saturday at Truist Park. “I’ve got to be better, I’ve got to be better to be with the best of the best in the league. Definitely, this year I came in with a different mentality.”
There was no repeat of the slow start that cost him a spot last season. Soto’s .971 OPS is the second-best in baseball behind Houston’s Yordan Alvarez (1.067), and tops the NL. His .406 on-base clip also tops the NL.
“One of the coolest things you can do is be around greatness, and he clearly is that in the batter’s box,” said interim manager Andy Green. “It’s very otherworldly. He does it day in, day out. It’s just quality at-bat after quality at-bat, the damage is there, the walks are there, and it’s as professional as it gets.”
The 27-year-old was visibly excited after receiving the news in Atlanta. He credits the fans in his native Dominican Republic, as well as in New York, saying he appreciated how Mets fans have welcomed him since he went from the Bronx to Queens last season.
Starters were voted in by fans, while pitchers and reserve players were selected through a player ballot, a group of voters consisting of players, managers, coaches and league personnel. Each team has at least one representative.
The honor for Soto is in being around the top players in the game and knowing he’s one of them.
“For me, it’s just watching the game, watching all those superstars playing on one team,” Soto said. “I mean, how stacked can one lineup be? It’s really cool to see. So, I feel like every part of it I enjoy.”
A decision hasn’t been made about whether or not Soto will participate in the Home Run Derby. Soto wants to take into account what’s best for his body and for the team in the second half of the season. A remarkably consistent player throughout his career, Soto has been the most consistent hitter for the Mets this season. He hasn’t gone more than three consecutive games without a hit yet this season, and has reached base in 44 of his last 88 plate appearances.
He doesn’t want to do anything to disrupt his production at the plate, especially when the rest of the lineup is having trouble just getting on base on many nights. The Mets rank toward the bottom of the league in every offensive category.
“There’s not much stuff to be proud of, but definitely, we’ve been trying our best,” Soto said. “I definitely see guys grinding. That’s one of the things I’m really proud of — the work ethic that my teammates have. It’s unbelievable how they come and show up every day to prepare themselves to play the game. It’s great. I feel like it’s one of the things that we can do the best, how we prepare ourselves to be ready for the game. It’s one of the things I’m most proud of.”
The Mets will be the fourth different team Soto has represented at the All-Star Game, previously going as a member of the Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres and Yankees.
