Soto has a mild hamstring strain and is under daily observation; decision on injury list placement pending.

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza stated today that Juan Soto's injury update is "mixed," yet far more favorable than the most severe outcome. Yesterday, the team's key player strained his right calf while running the bases.

The MRI today showed a mild strain, constituting the "bad news" portion. The good news is that Soto woke up feeling much better this morning, and the imaging results surprised even him. Similarly, Mendoza expressed astonishment when observing Soto's walking condition.

Mendoza listed Soto's status as day-to-day and indicated that although the left fielder feels well, the team will decide based on his response to treatment over the next 48 to 72 hours. Placing him on the injury list is not currently considered, but Mendoza would not rule it out if Soto's condition persists.

“I've experienced calf tightness before,” Soto said, “and this definitely isn't the worst I've felt. So I'm optimistic about it.”

He added that this sensation is "somewhat similar" to the left calf injury he sustained while playing for the Nationals in 2022. That time, he exited after only five innings but returned to play the next day.

Soto felt the right calf strain while running the bases in the first inning yesterday. He hit a single, and after Bo Bichette also singled, he felt discomfort after stepping on second base while advancing from first to third. When Brett Baty hit a pitcher-directed double play, Soto was tagged out at home plate, then reported the injury to the medical staff and was immediately replaced.

Soto did not rule out returning tomorrow (the final game of the series and road trip), but Mendoza appeared reluctant to take that risk.

“When I saw him today, his mobility surprised me,” Mendoza said, “but calf injuries are unpredictable; we still need to wait and see.”

Mendoza expects that during Soto's absence, Baty will get most of the starting opportunities in left field when regular center fielder Luis Robert Jr. starts. On Saturday, with Robert resting, Mendoza chose to have Baty play right field and Jared Young play left field.

Mendoza is not yet prepared to discuss which players might be called up from Triple-A Syracuse if Soto goes on the injury list. However, he noted that veteran Tommy Pham, a 12-year veteran who signed a minor league deal with the Mets on March 26, is still far from ready. Due to his late signing, Pham missed normal spring training and has only just begun gradual baseball activity recovery.