Juan Soto has reached another remarkable career milestone, but for the New York Mets and their fans, his individual brilliance may prove bittersweet if the team’s season ends in disappointment.

On Saturday night, Soto delivered his 40th home run of the season in a narrow 3-2 loss to the Texas Rangers, further etching his name in baseball’s history books. The home run not only highlighted his continued consistency but also solidified his standing among the game’s elite sluggers. Yet for all the personal accolades, the Mets’ late-season slide has cast a shadow over what should otherwise be celebrated as a historic year for their marquee signing.

Soto’s Home Run Milestone

The blast made Soto the first player to hit 40 or more homers for both the New York Yankees and the Mets. Last season, in pinstripes, Soto set a personal best with 41 home runs. Now, with 13 games still left on the Mets’ regular-season schedule, he has an opportunity to surpass that mark and establish a new career high.

While the accomplishment is significant, there’s little doubt frustration lingers around Citi Field. If the Mets fail to secure one of the National League’s six playoff spots, it will be hard for fans to truly celebrate what Soto has achieved, no matter how historic his numbers appear on paper.

Entering Rare Territory

Soto’s 2025 campaign has been defined not just by his power but by a combination of skills rarely seen together in the sport. Alongside his 40 home runs, he has swiped 32 bases and drawn 118 walks. Those figures put him in an exclusive club with only two other players in Major League Baseball history—Barry Bonds and Jeff Bagwell.

Bonds accomplished the feat in 1996 and 1997, while Bagwell matched it in 1997 and 1999. For Soto, joining two names often associated with complete offensive dominance cements his place among the most well-rounded sluggers the game has ever seen.

Adding to the significance, Soto is the first Mets player ever to record both 40 home runs and 30 steals in a single season. That achievement alone was enough to warrant the emphatic bat flip he displayed after clearing the fences.

A Historic List of Power Hitters

According to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, Soto has also become just the ninth player in history to hit 40 home runs for different teams in consecutive seasons. The list of names alongside him reads like a Hall of Fame roll call, including Shohei Ohtani, Nelson Cruz, Jim Thome, Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., Rafael Palmeiro, Greg Vaughn, and Andrés Galarraga.

The breakdown of players who have accomplished the feat includes:

• Juan Soto: Yankees (2024), Mets (2025)

• Shohei Ohtani: Angels (2023), Dodgers (2024)

• Nelson Cruz: Orioles (2014), Mariners (2015)

• Jim Thome: Indians (2002), Phillies (2003)

• Alex Rodriguez: Mariners (2000), Rangers (2001)

• Ken Griffey Jr.: Mariners (1999), Reds (2000)

• Rafael Palmeiro: Orioles (1998), Rangers (1999)

• Greg Vaughn: Padres (1998), Reds (1999)

• Andrés Galarraga: Rockies (1997), Braves (1998)

Soto also joins Cruz and Thome in another exclusive category: players who hit 40 homers in their first season with a new team on multiple occasions. Cruz managed the feat with three different franchises—the Orioles, Mariners, and Twins—while Thome did it with Cleveland and Philadelphia. Now, Soto has joined them, having done so with the Yankees and Mets.

The Contract That Defined a Franchise

When the Mets signed Soto to a massive 15-year, $765 million contract last offseason, expectations were sky-high. The deal set a record for the largest contract in MLB history. Though Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract with the Dodgers boasts a higher average annual value, Soto’s commitment to Queens became the most significant signing in franchise history.

So far, Soto has lived up to the individual billing. His power numbers, plate discipline, and speed on the basepaths have all been as advertised. With a $51 million annual paycheck, the Mets wanted a player capable of producing MVP-caliber seasons, and Soto has delivered exactly that in his debut campaign in Queens.

Mets’ Collapsing Playoff Push

Unfortunately for the Mets, Soto’s heroics have not been enough to mask the team’s overall shortcomings. Despite his contributions, the Mets are mired in an alarming slump, with eight consecutive losses and defeats in nine of their last 10 contests. The poor stretch has dropped them to a 21-30 record in the second half of the season, raising fears that their season could end in bitter disappointment.

For fans, the contrast is painful. They have witnessed Soto meet and exceed expectations individually, but as a team, the Mets have stumbled badly when it matters most. With just under two weeks left in the season, every game carries monumental significance. Still, their postseason hopes are hanging by a thread.

A Season of Contradictions

Soto’s 2025 campaign reflects the paradox facing the Mets organization. On one hand, they have a superstar producing at an all-time level, breaking records and joining exclusive lists filled with legendary names. On the other hand, the club risks missing the playoffs despite one of the sport’s highest payrolls.

The frustration for fans will only grow if Soto’s historic season ultimately comes without October baseball. Still, from an individual perspective, his achievements are undeniable and will be remembered long after the sting of the Mets’ potential collapse fades.