By Amy Tennery
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Major League Baseball season is months away but fans and players for the New York Mets got the party started early on Saturday, celebrating the arrival of generational hitting talent Juan Soto ahead of their 2025 campaign.
The Mets heaped money at Soto’s doorstep to sign the prodigious outfielder, snaring the ultimate prize of the offseason last month with a reported record 15-year, $765 million contract.
“Everything that I’m hearing around the league and people that had him in the past, it’s like how special this guy is,” said manager Carlos Mendoza, who last month called the signing “one of the best days” in the history of the club.
“I’m excited to get to know him and learn from him, as well.”
The deal has given hope to Mets fans who have gone nearly 40 years without a World Series win, and the team rolled out the red carpet for their first fan festival in five years, after their shock run to the NLCS last season.
The fans dressed in heavy winter coats showed up in droves on Saturday for the “Amazin’ Day” celebration, even as a thin layer of snow sat on the infield and frigid weather made the April 4 home opener feel miles away.
Soto had been expected to attend but did not make it after his flight from the Dominican Republic was cancelled, a Mets spokesperson said. His new teammates, though, leapt to sing his praises in his absence.
“I think he’s a great person and he’s going to help the team,” said catcher Francisco Alvarez, while third baseman Mark Vientos told reporters the chance to bat behind Soto was a “pinch me” moment.
Closer Edwin Diaz said he was happy to have Soto’s firepower – the 26-year-old lefty knocked 41 homers out of the park for the Mets’ crosstown rival Yankees last year.
He is also relieved not to have to pitch to him anymore.
“Juan is one of the best hitters in the league,” said Diaz. “I’m really happy to have him with us this year.”
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
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