When Juan Soto arrived in Queens, the buzz was deafening. The Mets had pulled off the unimaginable—signing the 26-year-old superstar to a jaw-dropping 15-year, $765 million deal. Billboards lit up. Jerseys flew off the shelves. The city, always hungry for a savior, thought it had found one. But less than a month into the season, the headlines have shifted. Soto’s bat, once feared across both leagues, has cooled, and fans are already asking: Is he worth it?

That question—blunt, premature, but quintessentially New York—has started to creep into talk radio, Twitter threads, and postgame debates. In a city where every at-bat is magnified, Soto’s early struggles have become a conversation. And while the noise grows louder outside, inside the Mets’ clubhouse, Francisco Lindor is making sure it doesn’t echo within. This isn’t his first time watching a superstar get swallowed by the weight of expectations. He’s been that guy. And now, he’s using that experience to deliver a message—one Soto needs to hear.

“You can’t make up all the expectations in one year,” Lindor said. “Even if you win MVP your first season with the new contract, you gotta still come back the next year and do it again. It’s all about staying the course, taking it day by day, living in the moment, and not letting the outside noise get inside the house.”

It wasn’t a warning. It was a torch-passing. Lindor, who weathered his own early storms in New York after signing a $341 million deal, sees in Soto the same overwhelming swirl of hype, pressure, and promise. But where some would tiptoe around the superstar, Lindor chose honesty—and that’s what leadership looks like in Flushing right now.

He’s not downplaying Soto’s talent. In fact, he’s praising the way he’s handled the chaos so far. “He’s not trying to do anything extra,” Lindor said. “He understands the land here.” But that understanding must translate into durability. Into consistency. Because in this town, one hot streak won’t buy you immunity. You’re only as good as your next at-bat—and your last October.

So as fans debate the price tag and pundits circle like hawks, Lindor is standing beside his new teammate, steady and unfazed. He’s been through the fire, and he knows how to survive it.

The question isn’t whether Soto can live up to $765 million. The real question is whether he’ll let the noise write his story or stay focused long enough to write his own.

Mets faithful show patience with Juan Soto’s struggles, offer standing ovation

It’s one thing to struggle under the New York spotlight, but it’s another to have the city’s fans stand by you through it. While many were quick to jump on the doubts surrounding Juan Soto’s early-season performance, the Mets fans are taking a different approach. Despite posting a .233 batting average with just three homers and 12 RBIs through 25 games, Soto met with a surprising gesture from the home crowd: a standing ovation.

Last Week, during a series against the Cardinals, was when the moment arrived for Soto as he stood up with the game on the line, in New York City. Instead of facing the frustrations that often surround struggling stars, Soto was met with applause and cheers from the crowd. And what did he do? He delivered a game-tying single that not only quieted the critics but also solidified his bond with the Mets’ fanbase. This wasn’t just another hit; it was a message from both sides. The Mets faithful are willing to wait, and Soto is ready to prove that he’s still the dynamic player they thought they were getting.

In the end, the standing ovation was a powerful reminder that the city values persistence and potential. As Soto settles in, the Mets fans will continue to back their star, knowing his best is yet to come.