ATLANTA — One of the few Mets players who has performed to his level of expectations this season is headed to the All-Star game.
Juan Soto was voted a National League starter for the July 14 game in Philadelphia.
He was the only Mets player selected.
Soto learned of the honor Saturday before the Mets faced the Braves at Truist Park.
It’s hardly a surprise selection: Soto began play with MLB’s second-highest OPS (.971) and has carried an underwhelming Mets lineup with 18 homers and 41 RBIs in 69 games — he missed nearly three weeks in April rehabbing a calf strain.
Soto expressed disappointment last summer when he wasn’t selected to the All-Star Game in his first season with the Mets.
“I just fell short last year and it kind of motivated me that I have got to be better,” Soto said. “I have got to be better to be with the best of the best in the league, and this year I came in with a different mentality, and thank God that I made it.”
Soto said he’s considered participating in the Home Run Derby but will wait on that decision.
“I have got to check where my body’s at,” he said. “How much I need to recover and be ready for the second half. We have got to think about every situation and we’ll go from there.”
Luke Weaver and Huascar Brazoban are the only other Mets players who could have been considered for the All-Star roster based on performance.
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But both are setup relievers — traditionally a difficult road to selection given the emphasis on starting pitchers and closers.
Weaver and Brazoban remain in play as potential replacements on the NL roster.
Last season the Mets sent Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz and David Peterson to the All-Star game.
Soto’s selection was his fifth.
He’s also represented the Nationals, Padres and Yankees in the Midsummer Classic.
“It’s always an unbelievable experience and I expect to have the same thing here,” Soto said.
“I have got to thank all the fans in the Dominican Republic, they made it possible. Thanks to the people of New York too, they really voted a lot. Mets fans are really unbelievable, and I appreciate everything they have done for me these past two years.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
