Soto’s $765M Mets Era Begins With Boos, Drama, and a Stunning Whiff

Houston, Texas

The roar of disapproval echoed through Daikin Park every time Juan Soto stepped into the box on Opening Day. The $765 million superstar, now donning Mets blue and orange, was the center of attention— and the target of Houston’s unrelenting jeers. But the loudest moment of the night? The ninth inning, two outs, game on the line, Soto staring down Josh Hader, one of baseball’s nastiest closers.

With the count full, Soto—known for his patience and swagger—chased a filthy slider out of the zone. Whiff. Game over. The Astros triumphed 3-1, leaving the Mets’ prized acquisition with nothing but regret and a long flight home to think about the one that got away.

“I was sitting fastball,” Soto admitted postgame, shaking his head. But Hader had other plans. The result? A brutal first impression for the Mets’ newest megastar, whose every move will be dissected under the weight of his record-breaking contract.

It wasn’t all bad for Soto—he singled in his first at-bat and worked two walks—but the Mets’ bats stayed ice-cold until the ninth. When New York finally threatened, loading the bases with no outs, Francisco Lindor’s sac fly gave them life. Then came Soto’s moment. A script written for a hero’s welcome. Instead, it became a lesson in baseball’s cruel unpredictability.

Soto is no stranger to pressure. Just a year ago, he debuted in the Bronx under similar scrutiny, but this? This is different. The Mets aren’t just paying him to be great. They’re paying him to be legendary. And if you ask the Houston crowd, they’re loving every second of the struggle.