The New York Mets are struggling. Falling to the Pittsburgh Pirates by a final score of 9-2 on Saturday, New York dropped its second straight game, which also marked a seventh loss in 10 contests. Once comfortably atop the NL East, this skid has the Mets a half-game back of the Philadelphia Phillies for first place.
Recognizing the urgency of this moment, the Mets had a players only meeting following Saturday's loss. Outfielder Brandon Nimmo told reporters that 6-7 players spoke in the meeting, naming Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso as two of them (via SNY).
As it turns out, Juan Soto also spoke up.
New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22)
© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
While Soto is in his first year with the Mets, his stature in the league and record-breaking $765 million contract give him a voice. He reportedly used that voice during the Mets' team meeting, but kept his message simple.
"Keep going," he said (via Mike Puma of the New York Post). "Believe in it."
Soto hasn't exactly been the problem for the Mets during their recent skid. The left-handed slugger is hitting .273 over his last seven games with an .818 slugging percentage. This is part of a broader stretch of good play for Soto, as he owns an 1.150 OPS over his last 30 games.
With all the talk about Soto's slow start to his Mets tenure, he now ranks eighth in the National League in OPS, seventh in home runs and third in on-base percentage. Amid this improved play, he is also reportedly using his voice in the clubhouse.
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