Juan Soto's Mets Season Ends Amid Controversial Call

Juan Soto's second season with the New York Mets ended in frustration on Sunday, as a disputed strike three call sealed a scoreless finale in the Subway Series against the Yankees. The outfielder, in the second year of his historic 15-year, $765 million contract, was one of the few Mets to challenge Yankees starter Cam Schlittler before the contentious ruling.

With the Mets trailing in the top of the sixth inning on September 15, Soto worked a full count against Schlittler. He took a high fastball that was called strike three by the home plate umpire, a decision that ended the at-bat and left Soto visibly angry. Fan reactions on social media were sharply divided. Some accused the umpires of favoring the Yankees, while others mocked Soto, suggesting he could "enjoy Cancun" with the Mets out of playoff contention. Schlittler pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out eight.

Veteran WFAN sportscaster Joe Benigno launched a blistering critique of Soto earlier in the week, specifically targeting comparisons between the Mets slugger and Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams. "I'm putting it right out there, and you can say whatever you want, this guy (Pete Alonso) is having a much better year than the overrated Juan 'freaking' Soto," Benigno said. "And if I hear again that this guy is Ted Williams, I'm gonna vomit." He questioned Soto's clutch hitting, saying he would prefer to see other Mets batters in key spots. Benigno's comments came as former Met Pete Alonso received a standing ovation and hit his 300th career home run at Citi Field.

Despite the criticism in New York, Soto's reputation as a hitting phenom remains a benchmark in the sport. A top Los Angeles Dodgers prospect was recently compared to Soto, with reports indicating the young player was "not mad" about the comparsion as his star potential grows. Separately, St. Louis Cardinals prospect Rainiel Rodríguez was also mentioned alongside Soto for joining an elite statistical group. This shows that within player development circles, Soto's early-career plate discipline and success still set a standard for incoming talent.

The 2026 season marks two consecutive playoff misses for the Mets since Soto's high-profile move to Queens. His year has been disrupted by injuries, limiting his impact. With the campaign now over, the focus shifts to an offseason where Soto must find consistency to live up to his monumental contract. The organization will be looking for ways to build a more competitive team around their franchise cornerstone.

• Contract Status: Soto is in year two of a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets.
• Season Finale: His season ended with a controversial strikeout in a 2026 Subway Series loss to the Yankees on September 15.
• Broadcaster Critique: WFAN's Joe Benigno dismissed Ted Williams comparisons and called Soto "overrated."
• Prospect Benchmark: Soto's hitting profile remains a comparison point for elite prospects in other organizations.