By any statistical measure, Juan Soto’s first season with the Mets was a success.
The superstar outfielder — who bolted from The Bronx to Queens on a historic 15-year, $765 million deal — set career highs in several offensive categories, including home runs (43) and stolen bases (38) as he finished third in the National League MVP race.
But the four-time All-Star got off to a slow start, sporting a .241 batting average with just three home runs and 12 RBIs through the end of April as Mets fans became restless.
That’s when Soto, 27, leaned on advice from a retired outfielder familiar with the weight of a massive contract in Queens: Carlos Beltran.
“He shared that the same thing happened to him once when he was really struggling in New York,” Soto said in an interview on “Siendo Honestos” with Katherine Hernandez, as translated by The Post. “Everyone was piling on and the pressure was intense. To get through it, he started carrying a card with all his stats written on it.
“Every time he looked at it, he reminded himself: this is who I am as a player, not the version everyone else is trying to paint. That simple mental reset helped him break out of the slump.”
Beltran can relate to the pressures of a historic contract with the Mets better than most.
Fresh off a historic 2004 postseason in which he hit eight homers for the Astros, Beltran signed a then-Mets record seven-year, $119 million deal.
Despite making the All-Star team in 2005, Beltran set career lows in several major categories while battling injuries and one of the most gruesome on-field collisions in baseball history.
The following season, however, Beltran kicked off an elite three-year stretch, averaging 33 homers and 113 RBIs while winning three consecutive Gold Gloves.
While injuries hampered Beltran during his final years in Queens, he established himself as one of the most impactful players in franchise history.
The Mets did not have to wait until 2026 to see an elite version of Soto.
Despite the Amazin’s collapse that saw them miss the playoffs, Soto led the league in walks (127), on-base percentage (.396) and tied with Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz for the most stolen bases in the NL (38).
Soto became the first player in Mets history to record a season of at least 40 homers and at least 30 steals. He also joined Barry Bonds and Jeff Bagwell as the only players in MLB history with a season of at least 40 homers, 30 steals and 100 walks.
Soto finished third in NL MVP voting behind winner Shohei Ohtani and runner-up Kyle Schwarber.
Beltran — now an assistant to Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns — marveled to The Post in May about Soto as he made his highly anticipated Yankee Stadium return.
“No one wants to be booed,” Beltran said. “But this was expected. This is a guy that last year did an incredible job for the Yankees. He was an asset for the organization. As a free agent, he signed with the Mets. I feel he was even expecting it himself.
“I think Soto did a great job.”
In the midst of a transformative offseason that saw mainstays Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz leave in free agency and fellow cornerstones Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil traded, Soto — alongside Francisco Lindor — will play a crucial role in the Mets’ success next season.
And even when he struggles, Soto can tap into his memory bank and keep cashing in on Beltran’s advice.
“Looking back, I’d say that was the last piece of advice that truly made a difference for me,” Soto said.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
