Soto placed on injury list with calf strain, expected to miss 2-3 weeks

The New York Mets today opted for a more cautious approach, placing Juan Soto on the 10-day injury list due to a right calf strain. Although this decision is retroactive to April 4, the Mets announced that, based on the severity of his strain, the typical recovery time is two to three weeks, meaning Soto's stay on the injury list may exceed the minimum period.

The Mets called up Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Soto's roster spot.

The 27-year-old Soto felt tightness in his calf while running from first to third base during the Mets' 10-3 win over the Giants last Saturday. He exited the game in the first inning and underwent an MRI the next day, which revealed a strain.

Soto had previously been placed on the injury list three times in his career, all during his tenure with the Nationals. In 2019, he was listed due to back spasms. In 2020, he was placed on the COVID-19 injury list for potential virus exposure. In 2021, he was listed for a left shoulder strain. None of these injuries caused him to miss significant time. Since 2022, Soto has been one of the healthiest players in the league, playing in 640 out of a possible 658 games. Only Matt Olson, Pete Alonso, and Francisco Lindor have played more games during that same period.

Given his two-to-three-week recovery timeline, this is likely to be Soto's longest stint on the injury list in his career.

"I've experienced calf tightness before," Soto said Saturday in San Francisco. "This definitely isn't the worst I've felt. So I'm optimistic about it."

In the second year of his 15-year, $765 million contract, Soto had a hot start to the 2026 season, posting a .355/.412/.516 slash line with one home run and two doubles in 8 games before the injury.

During Soto's absence, the Mets have relied on several backup players including Tyrone Taylor and Brett Baty to cover the outfield. Both can handle left field, and Carson Benge can as well; he was originally slated to start in left field on Sunday but a minor thumb issue pushed Baty into the lineup. This created an opportunity for Jared Young, who went 3-for-3 with two excellent defensive plays in left field during the 5-2 win over the Giants.

The roster adjustment also created daily playing opportunities for Mark Vientos, who has performed well as the team's nearly everyday starting first baseman.

Meanwhile, Mauricio provides the Mets with a genuine backup shortstop. The former top prospect has also played second and third base in the minors this season and has previous experience in left field.