Juan Soto appreciated his alternative to reunite with “brothers” on Monday within the Mets’ last Grapefruit League sport.
On the opposite aspect stood the Yankees — not less than one thing of a illustration of the Mets’ crosstown rival, with many of the key gamers absent.
For Soto, who helped the Yankees to the World Collection final season earlier than defecting to the Mets on a file $765 million contract over 15 years, it was an opportunity to share just a few hugs and laughs with former teammates.
“It was an important feeling to get a bit of bit in contact with these guys,” Soto mentioned after a 6-6 tie at Clover Park. “Now we have a variety of reminiscences from final 12 months. Simply to get to see them and see they’re doing effectively as a workforce and personally, too, I’m comfortable for them.”
Soto was booed in his dwelling spring coaching ballpark by many Yankees followers in attendance, however most well-liked to view the glass as largely full.
“I believe it was a variety of cheers on the market, so I take all of that and I used to be comfortable for my followers that cheer for his or her gamers and I am going from there,” Soto mentioned.
Earlier than the sport, he convened together with his former supervisor, Aaron Boone, who mentioned he advised Soto he regarded “horrible” in a Mets uniform.
Soto wasn’t offended.
“It’s simply Boonie, he in all probability doesn’t just like the orange and blue,” Soto mentioned. “However for me it’s a special feeling going through these guys on the market who went by final 12 months, it was an actual enjoyable expertise, since you already know their minds, their mindset and the way they’re — going through [Marcus] Stroman, a man I used to be in contact with final 12 months and we’ve had good conversations previously, so it was fairly cool.”
The Subway Collection will include six video games through the common season (up from 4 final 12 months), giving Soto loads of alternatives this summer time for interactions together with his previous followers.
It begins with three video games in The Bronx in mid-Might.
“Yankees followers, they will shock you with something, so I’m anticipating the worst,” Soto mentioned.
The Yankees had a tough spring, most notably shedding Gerrit Cole to Tommy John surgical procedure and Luis Gil to a lat pressure that landed him on the 60-day injured listing.
Soto mentioned he’s effectively conscious of what has occurred with the Yankees.
“We really feel like brothers proper now and I keep up a correspondence with a variety of guys over there, so I positively know what’s going on,” Soto mentioned.
The All-Star outfielder was requested for his evaluation of the Mets after finishing six weeks in camp together with his new workforce.
The Mets broke camp after Monday’s sport for a flight to Houston, the place they’re set to open Thursday.
It’s a workforce that may open the season with Sean Manaea (indirect), Frankie Montas (lat pressure), Francisco Alvarez (rehab from surgical procedure to take away a damaged hamate bone in his left hand) and Jeff McNeil (indirect).
“I believe we’re in a extremely great spot,” Soto mentioned. “We’re a extremely proficient group. Now we have a variety of guys. Now we have a variety of outfielders, now we have a variety of infielders, so I believe we’re actually loaded as a workforce. I can’t wait to see these guys going on the market. Undoubtedly, we needed to undergo some adversity in spring coaching, take care of some accidents and stuff like that. However I believe we’re going to be high quality.”
The Mets are anticipated to battle with the Braves and Phillies for the NL East crown.
Not surprisingly, Soto isn’t choosing the Braves or Phillies to win the division.
“You’re all the time anticipating to be on the high,” he mentioned. “It doesn’t matter who’s within the division, we nonetheless assume we’re going to be on the high.”
