Juan Soto's .146 Batting Average In May And Ankle Scare: Nobody In New York Is Ready For It

Alright, Emerald City, another tough one on the diamond today for our M's, dropping a 4-3 heartbreaker to the Astros. But while we're still processing that, let me tell you what went down with Juan Soto on the other side of the country. The guy fouled a ball off his ankle last night, had everyone holding their breath, and get this, he's barely hitting above the Mendoza line in May! Seriously, he's in the lineup today, but talk about a wild early season ride for a superstar.

An Ankle Scare That Had Everyone Panicking

Can you believe this? Juan Soto, the dude who practically lives on base, just gave Mets fans a heart attack. Wednesday night, he's up against the Detroit Tigers, and BAM! Foul ball right off his own bat, a Framber Valdez changeup, drills him square on the right ankle in the third inning. He was obviously in pain, tried to shake it off like a champ, even finished the at-bat with a strikeout after a trainer checked him out. Talk about grit, but also, what an awful way to go down. He stuck it out for a bit, even grounded out in the sixth, but by the seventh, they pulled him for a pinch hitter. The Mets ended up snagging a 3-2 win in 10 innings, but the big question was Soto. Manager Carlos Mendoza said he was day-to-day, and thankfully, x-rays came back negative. Close call, right?

The Slump Nobody's Talking About

This isn't even the first time Soto's been banged up this season. Remember that calf strain? He hit the injured list back on April 3 after straining his right calf running the bases against the San Francisco Giants. He returned to play on April 22, and now this ankle scare. And get this, since he's been back, his bat has been ICE COLD. In 11 games in May, the guy who's a four-time All-Star is hitting a dismal .146. That's right, .146! Just 6-for-41 with a single home run and three RBIs. For a player of his caliber, that's just wild to see this early in the season. He's only 27, in what should be his prime, and he's already had two injury scares and a slump like this. It makes you wonder what's going on. So, while Soto is back in the lineup, trying to shake off that slump and stay healthy, it's a stark reminder of how brutal this early MLB season can be. Every team is fighting through these bumps, and it just highlights how important health and consistency are. Our Mariners, after that tough 4-3 loss to Houston, gotta shake it off and come back swinging. We've got another one coming up against those Astros tomorrow, and you know it's going to be a battle. Let's hope our guys, like Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez, stay healthy and find their rhythm, because every single game and every single player matters right now. We need that W, Seattle! Let's go M's!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.