Overview
- The Mets confirmed on Feb. 10 that Juan Soto will move from right field to left field for the upcoming season.
- President of baseball operations David Stearns said the alignment made sense from a roster perspective, and manager Carlos Mendoza linked the discussion to Soto’s expected role for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic and his earlier left-field experience.
- Insider Jim Bowden reported that Stearns told him the decision did not involve analytics or formal evaluations, describing it as centered on comfort and WBC duties.
- Former GM Jim Duquette pointed to Soto’s defensive metrics, noting an estimated minus-12 Outs Above Average in right field last year and suggesting his arm and the smaller share of plays could make left field a better fit; Soto has logged roughly 4,000 career innings in left despite limited recent time there.
- Newsweek reported the change could open right field for top prospect Carson Benge, with Citi Field’s right field being about five feet shorter, though that remains an organizational possibility rather than a confirmed plan.