Mets' Juan Soto gets message from Yankees' Aaron Judge amid slow start in Queens

It's not as though Juan Soto has been bad during his time with the New York Mets so far, but he also hasn't been Juan Soto.

After a 1-for-10 showing in the highly anticipated showdown with the New York Yankees this weekend, Soto is hitting .246 with an .822 OPS through 46 games in Queens. Those are very solid numbers in today's day and age, but they're also not suggestive of a player worth $765 million.

Fortunately, championships aren't decided in May. And the Mets, even after dropping two out of three to the Yankees, are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the National League at 29-18.

However, they'll need the best version of Soto to accomplish their eventual goals for the season. Aaron Judge believes that won't be a problem.

Judge and Soto embraced before Sunday night's game, an 8-2 Yankees win in which Soto went 0-for-4. After the game, Judge revealed the message of encouragement he had for Soto as he struggles through a slow start by his standards.

"Just said hello to him, I hadn't seen him all series," Judge said, per SNY. "Just kind of wishing him the best, kind of said, 'Hey man, you're the best in the game. Things like this are gonna happen, just keep playing your game."

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Judge and Soto, of course, formed one of the most incredible offensive duos the game has ever seen during the latter's lone season with the Yankees in 2024. Judge has seen up close how formidable the 26-year-old can be when he's at his best.

Now that he's faced the boos in Yankee Stadium (and won't have to go back there until the World Series at the earliest), Soto can leave the Yankees in the past. He's a Met through and through now, and the Mets have the chance to do something special with his help.

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