New York Mets superstar Juan Soto insists that he has no regrets about playing through a severe calf strain despite the team being well out of contention.
"No, I don't (regret it)," Soto told reporters Monday, per SNY. "I'm trying to go out there and help my team to win ballgames, so whatever it takes. Sometimes it's tough. We were hoping that it would go the other way and I would get better and healthier and I could keep going, but it didn't."
Soto landed on the injured list Saturday with a Grade 2 left calf strain. It's the second time he's been sidelined by a calf issue this season. He strained his right calf in April, but this injury is more serious and could put his season in jeopardy.
Interim manager Andy Green said Friday that the five-time All-Star had been playing through the injury "for a week now." Soto said he wasn't shocked when his test results were more severe than the team had hoped.
"We were expecting something, because I was definitely going through it a lot," Soto said. "I was in a lot of pain, but I just kept pushing (it). Definitely, when we got the MRI I know I gonna get some (bad) results."
Soto has been perhaps the only bright spot on a disappointing Mets team this year. He's hitting .283/.408/.539 with 21 homers and 52 RBIs across 359 plate appearances, has taken more walks (63) than he has strikeouts (48), and continues to lead the NL in both OBP and OPS+ (162).
While it might be tempting for him to shut it down now and regroup for 2027 given where the Mets are in the standings, Soto isn't planning on doing that. The 27-year-old said he "100%" expects to return this year. Green also has no issue with his most important player getting back on the field in September, so long as it won't jeopardize his long-term health.
"You want to get him completely healthy before you even engage (in) that conversation," Green said. "We think the timelines line up, that there's enough of a season left that it's worthwhile to get one of your best players back on the field and go win baseball games. The fans that show up deserve to see the best that we have available, and he's the best that anybody has available.
"So once he gets to that spot, it's about the pride in New York and the pride in your team, and going out to win the baseball games that you have left to play. And so if he's healthy, that's the right decision for him and for us."
