The Mets got Juan Soto back in the lineup Thursday, one day after he fouled a ball off his ankle against Detroit and left early with what looked like it could’ve been another injury headache.
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported Soto’s return to the starting lineup, batting third as the designated hitter.
“Juan Soto is back in the Mets’ lineup today, less than a day after exiting early due to a foul ball off his ankle.”
It’s a relief for a team that’s had enough injury concerns this season. The imaging came back clean Wednesday night, and now Soto’s back on the field without missing any time.
That’s crucial timing for the Mets at 17-25. They’re in the middle of a modest two-game winning streak, but every game matters when you’re trying to dig out of a hole this deep.
What makes Soto’s quick return even more important is Francisco Lindor being out of the lineup. The Mets can’t afford to lose another key bat right now.
Soto’s been solid if not spectacular this season – he’s hitting .263 with four homers and 11 RBIs across 27 games. His .801 OPS shows he’s still producing above-average offense even if the counting stats aren’t eye-popping yet.
For a team that’s dealt with it’s share of injury scares already, getting Soto back this quickly feels like dodging a bullet. The ankle issue turned out to be nothing more than a brief scare, and the Mets avoided what could’ve been another frustrating absence.
