Mets' Mendoza Says Juan Soto 'Cares a Lot' amid Criticism, 'The Guy's Competing'

While New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza called out star Juan Soto for his lack of hustle earlier this week, he also recognized that Soto wants nothing more than to win.

Mendoza said that he believes frustration played a role when Soto watched from the batter's box as a line drive hit the wall against the Boston Red Sox and he settled for a single rather than extra bases on Monday.

"The guy's competing. I'll tell you that," Mendoza told reporters on Tuesday, per ESPN. "It happens, man. They're human."

Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract this offseason, but he hasn't quite lived up to the expectations so far this season. He has eight home runs, 20 RBI and a .247 batting average through 48 games.

His early struggles aren't because he doesn't care, according to Mendoza.

"Knowing the player, I'm pretty sure there's something there because again — he's elite. He's a special player, and you know he cares — he cares a lot," Mendoza said.

It's easy to understand why Soto might be frustrated with the way he's started the season. Just a year ago, he had the best year of his career with 41 home runs, 109 RBI and a .288 batting average while making a World Series run with the New York Yankees.

It's still early in the season, though, and Soto has plenty of time to turn things around. Mendoza thinks he's more than capable of doing so.

"I think he's comfortable, but again, everything is new. Not only a new team, but there's the new contract, the expectations," Mendoza said.

"That's our job as an organization, to continue to help him. But I do feel like he's in a good place. And look, it's about results, there, too. There's a lot of noise here, but he's going to be fine. He's too good of a player, and we'll be right there with him."