PORT ST. LUCIE — Juan Soto’s one-season stop with the Yankees may have served as the perfect primer for the All-Star outfielder as he begins the first of potentially 15 spring trainings with the Mets.
As Soto, in his first workout with his new team, participated in conditioning drills Sunday, fans stood behind a chain-link fence and called his name.
A large media gathering later followed Soto to Clover Park’s main field to watch him take batting practice.
For players new to the scene, it might have seemed like the circus.
Soto, already used to it — he helped the Yankees reach the World Series last year — took events in stride.
“[New York] is a different vibe,” Soto said. “You have so many eyes on you. You have so many teams that want to come in and beat you because you are part of the city. Broadway and everything, everybody wants to come in and beat the New York teams.”
Soto’s goal is to help the Mets end a World Series title drought that dates to 1986.
Soto noted that one player alone doesn’t guarantee a championship, but he views the Mets as in a strong position following the team’s surge last year to the NLCS.
“You need a whole team to go all the way,” Soto said. “You look around at the teams that win the World Series, it’s teams that have really good players, teams that have experience, youth. So I think it takes more than one guy, and when you see the Mets and the roster and what they have in the farm system, I think they have a chance to be in it for a long time. I think we have a really good chance to go all the way.”
Soto, who arrived on a record 15-year contract worth $765 million that contains an opt-out after the fifth season (which can be voided if the Mets agree to add $4 million each year to his remaining guarantee), said he is getting to know his new teammates and was pleased with the number of Latin players in camp and the support for them.
“I was really liking that,” Soto said. “And right when I went out here I said, ‘We actually have a really good Latin community in here, and it’s exciting.’ A lot of guys that we know where we come from and we know what we have got to go through and now we are here on the biggest stage. It’s really cool to see it. For us it was a really warm welcome and I am happy to be here.”
The 26-year-old Soto finished third in the American League MVP voting after last season, producing a .288/.419/.569 slash line with 41 homers and 109 RBIs.
It leaves little room for improvement offensively, but Soto cited his defense and baserunning as areas he would like to strengthen.
“Definitely the running part, it’s huge for me — I have to be better,” Soto said. “Improving my defense, I have gotten better every year. I have been so close to the Gold Glove, so I try to be better every day, every year so I can get closer and closer.
“[The Gold Glove] is a big focus for me. I want to be part of that group. I have been real close for the last couple of years and I think I have a reasonable chance.”
It would stand to reason that Soto will bat second in the lineup (with Pete Alonso hitting behind him), but manager Carlos Mendoza said it’s too early to say.
Last season Soto thrived hitting ahead of Aaron Judge.
“We have to get through spring training healthy before we start having those real conversations,” Mendoza said. “I just wanted to get his take [Sunday] and he said he’s willing to do whatever. We’ll see how that is going to look, but [batting second] is a good option.”
Soto said that Alonso, who didn’t re-sign with the club until two weeks ago, was discussed during the Mets’ recruiting pitch to Soto in November and December.
“We were trying to make sure we had the cover of Pete — he’s one of the best pure power hitters in the league,” Soto said. “We’re trying to have some of that protection … he’s a huge piece for the team.”
