The Mets‘ seeming inability to drive in runs this season has been confounding, especially when you consider how hard they’re attempting to make issues occur on the basepaths. They’ve upped the motion in the case of stealing bases and taking further bases on hits or floor balls this season, with their 90.3% charge main all of baseball.
Heading into the week, the Mets have stolen 34 consecutive stolen bases safely, the longest lively streak in baseball. Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto are every tied for the staff lead with 18 swipes. For the previous, that is par for the course; Lindor has totaled 31 and 29 stolen bases in every of his final two seasons. For Soto, nevertheless, 18 beats his earlier career-high mark by six.
It’s not precisely a brand new membership he’s added to his bag this season.
Soto has made it a purpose to steal extra bases each season, however it hasn’t all the time been potential with the place earlier groups have had him within the batting order. He stole 12 luggage with the San Diego Padres in 2023, matching his earlier career-high mark from 2019, however final yr with the Yankees, he solely tried to steal 11 occasions and was profitable solely seven. With Aaron Choose hitting third behind him, the Yankees held him again.
Soto additionally by no means had this a lot success on the basepaths up to now. This season, working with baserunning coordinator Antoan Richardson, Soto is 18-for-19, with 1 baserunning run created, based on Statcast, the best of his profession. His occasions from dwelling plate to first have elevated from final season, even when his total dash velocity hasn’t.
“I feel really, really good [on the basepaths],” Soto mentioned. “I feel like everything that they’ve given me, I’ve been more comfortable with.”
Getting these further bases have change into extra than simply advantageous for the Mets — they’ve virtually change into essential. Soto has all the time gotten on base extra typically than most hitters, and it’s no totally different this season. The suitable fielder leads the league in walks (89) and his .383 on-base share is the ninth-highest in baseball.
However in latest weeks, it’s felt as if he’s the one one within the Mets lineup in a position to get on base on a considerably common foundation. Jeff McNeil, Francisco Alvarez and Starling Marte have been producing within the absence of the Mets’ large bats, however Soto was the one who broke up the no-hitter within the ninth inning final week towards the Cleveland Guardians, and Soto is the one Mets followers are relying on to make one thing occur.
It’s apparent he’s seeking to make one thing occur each time he reaches first, which is a credit score to Richardson, who he describes as probably the greatest baserunning coaches he’s ever had.
“I really trust him,” Soto mentioned. “At the beginning, I was thinking like, ‘Damn, this kind of scary, but he really knows what he’s doing, so you’ve just to trust what he’s got and go from there.”
Richardson is lauded by the Mets for his preparation and communication. The 41-year-old Bahamian is the reply to a trivia query because the pinch-runner who scored on Derek Jeter’s walk-off single within the former Yankees captain’s last at-bat at Yankee Stadium. Richardson challenges runners by placing them in positions they won’t in any other case be used to, however after they see outcomes, they study to belief him.
“Sometimes he tells you to get to a spot where it gets uncomfortable, or to go back to the base,” Soto mentioned. “Sometimes he holds you, and you’re like, ‘What is going on?’”
What’s occurring is that Richardson sees one thing at first base that his runners may not see, be it with the pitcher or the catcher.
“He does his magic,” Soto mentioned.
The Mets are going to wish extra magic than Richardson and Soto, however within the midst of this dismal stretch of video games, the operating recreation is the one facet of their recreation that’s really working.
Initially Printed: August 12, 2025 at 6:28 PM EDT
