New York Mets Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez just added some fuel to the fire this Subway Series after New York Yankees star outfielder Juan Soto failed to track down a fly ball in right field during the Mets' 12-2 victory.
“He's been a liability out there,” Hernandez said on the SNY broadcast. “You wonder why they want to play him in the deepest corner outfield position in this ballpark. Yankee Stadium, yes. But that's a fly ball. That's gotta be caught.”
"He's been a liability out there. You wonder why they want to play him in the deepest corner outfield position in this ballpark. Yankee Stadium, yes. But that's a fly ball. That's gotta be caught." Keith Hernandez on a Juan Soto misplay.
Soto was unable to track down a fly ball from Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, which allowed Brandon Nimmo to score from second and advanced Pete Alonso from first to third, giving the Mets 4-0 lead with one out in the bottom of the fifth.
The Mets would continue rallying in the fifth inning, scoring three more runs and bringing their lead up to 7-0 before ultimately earning the 12-2 triumph to sweep the two-game set.
Soto was not credited with an error on the play, but it's pretty clear that he could have made more of an effort running after that fly ball. Like Hernandez mentioned, Soto has been playing right field with Yankee Stadium's notorious “short porch,” with the right field wall standing just 314 feet from home plate.
At Citi Field, the right field pole is 330 feet from home plate and right-center field is 375 feet from home plate.
Juan Soto has been no liability this season
Despite this apparent miscue, Juan Soto hasn't been that bad of a defender this season. He has 1 outs above average according to Statcast, which puts him at 57 out of 128 qualified players.
At the plate, Soto is putting together another All-Star-caliber season, posting a league-leading .434 OBP and 67 walks, .303 AVG, .567 SLG and 19 home runs.
Soto is expected to enter free agency this offseason, and the Mets are expected to pursue the crosstown superstar.
“No one should be surprised if the Mets made a play,” said Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Heyman listed the Mets as the likeliest team to sign Soto outside of the Yankees.
If Soto does end up in Queens next season, it's safe to say Hernandez won't be calling him out anymore like he did on Wednesday night.
