Juan Soto recently reflected on the teams he enjoyed playing for the most, and his 2024 season with the New York Yankees ranked near the top.
Over the weekend, the Dominican Republic defeated the Netherlands via mercy rule in World Baseball Classic action. The game ended when Soto launched a walk-off home run that extended the score to 12–3, sealing the Dominican Republic’s second win in pool play.
After the game, Soto spoke to reporters while wearing the team’s celebratory home-run jacket. When asked which teams he had the most fun playing for, he mentioned the Dominican Republic squad first. His 2019 Washington Nationals team which defeated the Houston Astros in the World Series—came next, followed by the 2024 Yankees, another club he reached the World Series with.
“2019 and 2024 were really fun teams to be part of,” Soto said. “But this one is the best of all. You have the whole family, the whole Dominican Republic behind you.”
Interestingly, Soto didn’t mention the New York Mets. The 2025 season ended in disappointment for the team after they narrowly missed the playoffs on the final day, even though the Mets signed Soto to one of the largest contracts in American sports history.
Speculation about Soto being unhappy in Queens or playing there only for the money has circulated, though much of it seems exaggerated. In fact, Soto has already spent more time with the Mets than he did during his one season in the Bronx.
Ultimately, Soto’s feelings toward the Mets matter less if he continues producing at an elite level. After a slow start in 2025, he finished the season hitting .263/.396/.525 with a 156 wRC+ and 5.8 WAR, according to FanGraphs. He also delivered a 30–30 campaign, launching 43 home runs and stealing 38 bases far surpassing his previous career highs on the basepaths.
While Soto’s comments might hint at fond memories of the Yankees, the organization likely misses him as well. In 2024, Aaron Judge captured his second MVP award, with Soto finishing right behind him in the voting. Although Cody Bellinger helped fill the lineup afterward, replacing a player like Soto is nearly impossible.
That 2024 season was among the best of Soto’s career. He posted a .288/.419/.569 slash line with a career-best 181 wRC+ and 8.3 WAR. Batting alongside Judge created a nightmare scenario for opposing pitchers, as they had to decide which superstar to challenge.
Following that remarkable year, Soto secured his record-setting contract. So even if he occasionally looks back fondly on his Yankees season, the Mets gave him more than $700 million reasons to move on from that brief chapter.
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