Soto's Calf Issue
New York Mets star Juan Soto exits game early with left calf soreness, team plans 48-hour rest
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Key Points
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Turang's first-inning single was a 109 mph exit-velocity line drive, underscoring elite power as he later hit a 434-foot homer.
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Turang is three homers away from his career-high 18, with his power continuing to trend upward in 2026.
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Soto’s calf issue is in the opposite leg from the one that previously landed him on the IL earlier in the season, adding complexity to his recovery.
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Interim Mets manager Andy Green said the team planned to rest Soto for about 48 hours to get the calf thing completely behind him.
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Bleacher Report noted Soto walked twice in two plate appearances before exiting and described the calf issue as mild, reflecting ongoing management of the injury.
New York Mets star Juan Soto left Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning with left calf soreness, according to ESPN and ABC7NY. Jorge Polanco pinch-hit for him after Soto drew two walks in two plate appearances.
Interim manager Andy Green said the team plans to rest Soto for about 48 hours to get the calf issue "completely behind him." The Mets described the injury as mild. Soto is hitting .283/.408/.539 with 21 homers and 52 RBIs this season.
Soto's Calf Issue Has Been Building for Weeks
This is not a new problem. The Mets have used Soto as designated hitter in five of their last seven games to protect his left calf, according to ABC7NY. Playing DH means he does not have to run the bases or field, which helps keep the leg from getting worse.
What makes this more complicated is that it involves a different leg than his earlier injury. NY Post noted that this left calf issue is in the opposite leg from the one that put him on the injured list earlier this season. That means he is now managing soreness in both legs at different points in the year.
Soto Exits Early as Dodgers Take the Win
Soto walked in both of his plate appearances before being pulled in the sixth inning, Bleacher Report and NY Daily News reported. He did not come back out after that. The Dodgers went on to win, with Shohei Ohtani scoring the go-ahead run on a seventh-inning sacrifice, per NY Daily News.
Polanco stepped in as his replacement. The Mets lost the game, adding to a rough season. New York currently sits at 43-60, well below .500 and struggling in the standings.
Mets Taking a Cautious, Long-Term Approach
The team's plan is simple: rest now, avoid a bigger problem later. Green's 48-hour rest window signals the Mets are not willing to risk Soto missing significant time, according to ESPN. He has already missed games earlier this season due to a separate calf issue.
ClutchPoints noted the team announced "left calf soreness" officially and tried to protect him throughout the game before finally pulling him. With Soto being the Mets' biggest offensive weapon, keeping him in the lineup matters — even if it means limiting him to DH duties for now.
Soto's Production Makes His Health Critical for New York
Despite the injury management, Soto has been one of the best hitters in baseball this season. His .408 on-base percentage and .539 slugging percentage rank among the league's elite. He has 21 homers and 52 RBIs, putting up star-level numbers even while dealing with nagging calf trouble.
The problem is the Mets are 43-60. Soto's bat has not been enough to carry the team. Losing him for even a few days makes a tough situation harder. The next 48 hours will show whether this rest plan is enough to keep him on the field.
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