Juan Soto private plane, explained: Fact-checking report that Mets star flies separately from team

Juan Soto's return to the Bronx was filled with fireworks, with the Yankees handing Soto's Mets a decisive series defeat.

Soto's bat went fairly quiet; he only collected one hit in the series, although he did draw four walks, showcasing his omnipresent plate discipline.

Nevertheless, it wasn't quite the offering Soto and Co. had in mind, and neither were the whispers that emerged in the aftermath of the series — ones that appeared to imply that Soto and his family are receiving additional benefits from his big-money contract with the Mets.

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Here's what you need to know.

Juan Soto private plane, explained

Boomer Esiason suggested that Soto and his family have access to private flights during an appearance on WFAN Monday, citing comments made by Karl Ravech during ESPN's broadcast of the Subway Series over the weekend.

“Juan Soto just had a brutal three days,” Esiason said. “He can smile all he wants. He can take his helmet off and acknowledge the boos all he wants on Friday night. At the end of the day, it was a bad weekend for him. So, now he and his family can get on the private jet and go up to Boston."

There's just one problem: that's not actually what Ravech said. Instead, the "Sunday Night Baseball" anchor claimed that Soto's deal with the Mets features a host of family-centered elements, including charter flights for his family during road games.

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In other words, Soto's family doesn't have access to the private jets that Esiason claimed.

As for Soto, ESPN's Jeff Passan confirmed that the New York slugger takes the same plane as his Mets teammates.

"There is no private-jet provision in his contract for him or his team," Passan wrote on X.

Soto's big-money deal is packed with wrinkles, much like other notable athletes. Contrary to Esiason's assessment, that doesn't mean he's receiving preferential treatment — at least not as far as flight are concerned

Juan Soto contract

• Years: 15
• Value: $765 million

Soto inked the biggest contract in MLB history in December, agreeing to a mammoth 15-year, $765 million to return to the NL East with the Mets.

Soto's deal, which sees him earn $51 million average annual value (AAV), features no deferments. He can opt out of the deal after five years, although New York can void that agreement if it shells out $550 million over his final 10 years (as opposed to the $510 million the two sides initially agreed upon).

MORE: Juan Soto contract details | How contract compare to biggest in sports history