Mets' Soto Exits Game with Right Calf Tightness

San Francisco, California - New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto exited Friday night's game against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning after experiencing tightness in his right calf.

Soto led off the top of the first with a single off Giants starter Tyler Mahle. He advanced to third base on Bo Bichette's run-scoring single but appeared to grimace and slow down as he reached the bag. Soto stayed in the game momentarily and was thrown out at home plate when Brett Baty grounded into a 1-2-3 double play. Tyrone Taylor then replaced him in left field for the bottom of the inning.

The 27-year-old Soto, a key offensive player for the Mets, has shown strong form early in the season. He entered the game hitting .354 with one home run and five RBIs over eight contests, extending his hit streak to all eight games this year. In his debut season with New York last year, Soto batted .263 with 43 home runs and 105 RBIs.

Soto is in the second year of a landmark 15-year, $765 million contract he signed with the Mets in December 2024, the largest in Major League Baseball history. The deal underscores his value as one of the league's premier hitters, with a career .282 batting average and...