SAN DIEGO — Juan Soto, a rock who has played in 107 of 108 games in Year One of his $765 million contract with the Mets, had to be removed from game 108 with what the team called a foot contusion.
The Mets will cross their fingers that Soto won’t be out for an extended amount of time after he smashed a foul ball off his left, back foot in the fourth inning of the Mets’ 7-1 loss to the Padres at Petco Park.
Soto was in obvious pain and hobbled his way halfway to first base before taking a knee, with a trainer and manager Carlos Mendoza running out to check on him.
Juan Soto grimaces after fouling a ball off his foot while batting during the fourth inning of the Mets-Padres game on July 29, 2025. AP
After several minutes of examination, Soto initially remained in the game to finish his at-bat. He smacked a one-hopper to the right side and was robbed on a diving play from Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth.
Soto ran to first base but not smoothly.
Juan Soto takes a moment to recover after fouling a ball off his left foot while batting during the fourth inning of the Mets-Padres game on July 29, 2025. He later was forced to exit the game. AP
The right fielder was then removed before the start of the bottom of the fourth inning, when Tyrone Taylor entered to play center field and Jeff McNeil moved to right.
Fortunately for the Mets, it appeared Soto has avoided a major foot injury.
“I think it’s going to be good,” Soto, whose X-rays were negative, said after the Mets’ loss. “We just got to get the swelling down.”