Juan Soto Blaming Outfield Surface as Reason for Defensive Blunder Against Blue Jays Sparks Fan Fury: “New Low of an Excuse”

Juan Soto is batting with a .301 average and has 17 home runs and 39 RBIs in 66 games this season.

Juan Soto Blaming Outfield Surface as Reason for Defensive Blunder Against Blue Jays Sparks Fan Fury: “New Low of an Excuse”

Juan Soto (Image via X/@@AnthonyDiComo/Yardbarker)

The defensive woes continued for the New York Mets on Monday. In the game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Juan Soto had a blunder that allowed George Springer to score a little league home run. After the game, Soto blamed the outfield surface and said it was bouncy.

The Mets hit another slump last week following 6 straight losses. Despite winning the second game of the series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, they ended up losing the series against their division rivals.

One major problem for the Mets is their defense. In the second game of the doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, the team committed 6 errors in the infield. Infielders Mark Vientos, Marcus Semien, Bo Bichette, and Francisco Lindor made mistakes.

The next day, they committed errors once again. With the game scoreless in the 6th inning, they made 2 defensive errors, leading to the Cubs taking a 3-0 lead. Carlos Mendoza later sounded off on this performance from the team.

He was later fired from his job. On Friday, the team relieved him of his duties as the manager and named Andy Green as the interim manager for the rest of the season.

On Monday, the New York-based side traveled to Toronto to take on the Blue Jays. It was a big day for Bo Bichette, who returned to his former home ground after joining the Mets earlier this year on a 3-year, $126 million deal.

This time it was Soto who had a moment to forget in the field. With the game scoreless in the 1st inning, Springer lofted the ball to left field. Soto, who was playing in left field, completely missed the ball as it bounced away from him.

As the ball trickled towards the outfield wall, A.J. Ewing tried to help out his team. He, however, scooped the ball away while trying to pick it up. By the time Soto picked up the ball again, Springer had rounded off third base and completed a Little League home run.

In the end, the Mets lost again. They went down 2-1 as Soto went 1-for-3 with 1 walk. Following the game, the $765 million man gave a vague explanation for the huge misplay.

When you have an outfield like that, that it bounce a lot, you have to be aware because you can give up extra base hits really easy.

Juan Soto told the reporters in Toronto

Soto’s defense has historically received mixed reviews. While he has never won a Gold Glove, he was a finalist for this award twice in his career.

Despite this, it was a routine play. So seeing him make that kind of slip-up raised more concern among the Mets fans.

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Social media reacts to Juan Soto’s explanation for misplay against Blue Jays

Juan Soto found himself under backlash following his part in the New York Mets’ defensive blunder on Monday. His explanation for that saw many social media users blasting him.

NY Mets' Juan Soto
(Image via X/@BRWalkoff)

Users on X slammed him for his comments. One user wrote that his comment was a “new low of an excuse.” Check out that and some other reactions below:

This was the Mets’ 50th loss of the year. With a 35-50 record, they are 15 games behind the .500 mark after 85 games into the season.

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Juan Soto responds to criticism from former Mets bench coach

Ever since Juan Soto signed the $765 million deal with the New York Mets, he has received several criticisms for his performances. Recently, a former Mets bench coach said something against him. The Dominican international responded to these comments on Monday.

Juan Soto
Juan Soto (Image via MLB)

On the EC3 podcast, host Eric Chavez made some huge statements. The ex-Mets coach expressed that Soto would sit on the couches near the batting cages between innings and not with his teammates, who sat in the dugout.

This is a lack of leadership, a lack of accountability, from the top down. And we had an assistant GM who would sit there with (Soto); the assistant GM would sit there with him and kind of coddle him, tap him on the shoulder, without saying, ‘Hey dude, how about getting in the dugout with your teammates.’

Eric Chavez said regarding Juan Soto

Soto responded to these allegations on Monday. The 4-time All-Star claimed he had heard these words but refused to comment on the matter.

I have no comment to that.

Juan Soto told the reporters as per Mike Puma

When Soto joined the Mets in December 2024, many expected this to be the signing that would bring the World Series back to them. Despite a career-high 43 home runs, the team missed the playoffs on the final day of the season.

This year, he has hit with a .301 average while having 17 home runs and 39 RBIs. With the way things are going, the Mets would need a huge miracle to turn things around and reach the playoffs.

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