{"id":15601,"date":"2025-09-10T09:49:40","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T16:49:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=15601"},"modified":"2025-09-10T09:49:40","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T16:49:40","slug":"mets-juan-soto-becomes-first-30-30-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2025\/09\/10\/mets-juan-soto-becomes-first-30-30-player\/","title":{"rendered":"Mets\u2019 Juan Soto Becomes First 30-30 Player"},"content":{"rendered":"

MLB’s first 30-30 player this season is New York Mets<\/a> outfielder Juan Soto.<\/a><\/p>\n

The 26-year-old reached this milestone by stealing 30 bases and hitting 30 home runs during his first season in Queens. During Tuesday\u2019s 9-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies<\/a>, he recorded his 30th stolen base by stealing third during the eighth inning.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, this is a guy that you can trust with the decision-making,\u201d manager Carlos Mendoza<\/a> said when asked about Soto stealing third. \u201cIt\u2019s a big deal for him getting to 30, but if you ask him, he\u2019s not about his own stats. He\u2019s about winning.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

His latest career achievement came after he hit an RBI single to score Jose Siri<\/a>, who hit a double. Soto reached second from a single by Pete Alonso<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The All-Star outfielder recorded his 38th home run during Sunday\u2019s 3-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds<\/a>. This put him in a firm position to become the first 30-30 player this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cDefinitely, a lot of hard work was put in since the beginning of the season,\u201d Soto told reporters<\/a> during a postgame interview. \u201c(First base coach Antoan Richardson<\/a>) has done an unbelievable job. He\u2019s been helping me since day. He\u2019s the one who put me in this situation and spot to do what I\u2019ve done.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The other Mets who have had 30-30 seasons are Darryl Strawberry<\/a>, Francisco Lindor<\/a>, and Howard Johnson<\/a>. Johnson did it three times throughout his 14-year MLB career.<\/p>\n

Soto Stole 12 Bases Before Becoming First 30-30 Player<\/h2>\n

In 2019 and 2023, Soto stole 12 bases, which was his previous career high. But after signing a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets, he worked heavily on improving his base running skills.<\/p>\n

According to The Athletic<\/a>, he mastered stealing bases by taking big jumps, which was taught to him by Richardson, the Mets’ first-base coach. Soto lacks speed because, according to Statcast<\/a>, he ranks in the bottom 15 % of the major league.<\/p>\n

But this hasn\u2019t stopped him from stealing bases more aggressively. He has stolen a base three times across the past five games.<\/p>\n

Soto Is on Pace for a 40-30 Season<\/h2>\n

Soto is two home runs shy of becoming the first MLB player to reach the 40-30 mark this season. If the outfielder does so, he will become the first player in the Mets franchise history to do so.<\/p>\n

Strawberry came close to reaching the career milestone in 1987, but was a home run shy of 40. The Mets play Philadelphia on Wednesday and Thursday, meaning Soto can hit 40 home runs in the next two days.<\/p>\n

New York has 17 games<\/a> remaining, with eight on the road and nine at Citi Field. Wednesday\u2019s game between the Mets and Phillies starts at 6:45 p.m. Eastern.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>