Getty

Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets walks up to bat during the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field on April 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Heather Khalifa/Getty Images)

The New York Mets are currently tied for the worst record in baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Amid this horrible streak for New York, their hitting has been a major issue. The Mets are just one of two major-league teams to score under 100 runs this season, along with the San Francisco Giants.

Part of this stems from the loss of four-time All-Star and perennial MVP candidate Juan Soto.

Soto missed time this season due to a calf strain. Now, health continues to plague him.

Soto is experiencing forearm tightness, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, and is getting treatment.

What’s Next for Juan Soto and the New York Mets?

According to Heyman, Soto will not be absent from the lineup. However, he will be DH’ing for now.

Soto has played just 13 games this season due to a calf injury. When healthy, he has been the best bat on the team, as he should be.

In his second season with the Mets, on an MLB-record 15-year, $765 million deal, Soto is performing well. But perhaps not well enough for Mets fans to justify his gargantuan contract.

In 55 plate appearances, Soto has a .304/.418/.413 slash line with one home run and two doubles.

While the average and on-base skills are still among the best in baseball, the power and base-stealing have eluded Soto this season.

In 2025, Soto hit 43 home runs and stole an NL-best 38 bases. So far this season, he has not stolen a base and was caught in his only opportunity.

While the lack of base-stealing is likely directly related to his calf strain, the lack of power is a mystery.

According to Baseball Savant, it may be bad luck. Soto has a .511 expected slugging percentage, in the elite category.

According to all the other power-related advanced stats, Soto should be just fine. But will this forearm tightness affect his swing?

How Will This Affect the Team?

Mets’ manager Carlos Mendoza said since the arm is structurally fine, he is good to swing. According to ESPN’s Jorge Castillo, Mendoza hopes Soto can play in the outfield in the next few days.

Soto has not played in the outfield since the calf injury.

But perhaps that is better for the Mets for now. While Soto and the Mets clearly want him in the outfield, he is a defensive liability.

In 2025, he had -12 Outs Above Average, in the first percentile among all MLB fielders, according to Baseball Savant.

It’s likely best for Soto and the team if he stays away from the grass until he is fully healthy.

So, who will replace his glove in his absence?

It appears that MJ Melendez is in the lineup on April 28 in left field, where Soto has played seven games this season.

Melendez, in 24 plate appearances, has a career-high .273/.333/.549 slash line. However, he is being used exclusively against right-handers, with just one plate appearance against a left-hander this season.

Austin Slater or Tyrone Taylor will likely take Soto’s place against left-handers.

The one solace for Mets fans should be that Soto will still be playing, albeit in a limited fashion.