Mets interim manager cites workload management for Soto’s early exit

New York Mets interim manager Andy Green confirmed that outfielder Juan Soto exited the team’s contest against the Philadelphia Phillies in the eighth inning on Thursday, July 16, due to left calf soreness. The decision was made at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and was characterised by Green as a precautionary measure rather than a response to acute injury.

Green told reporters that Soto, who had participated in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game earlier in the week, had experienced a minor discomfort. "He had a little bit of left calf soreness," Green said, noting that while the player felt capable of continuing, the cumulative activity of the past few days made removal from the field the logical administrative choice.

The Mets secured a 4-1 victory in the rescheduled contest. Soto contributed one hit, a single, and drew three walks before his departure. The game was moved up by one hour to accommodate poor air quality in the northern United States caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires.

This incident follows a pattern of minor physical setbacks for the 27-year-old star. In April, Soto was placed on the 10-day injured list after aggravating his right calf, a stint that caused him to miss 15 games. He also sat out one game in June after leaving a match against the Chicago Cubs due to back soreness.

With the team scheduled for a day off on Friday, July 17, Green indicated that Soto is expected to return for the remainder of the series against the Phillies this weekend. The interim manager emphasised that the primary concern was managing the player’s workload following the intense schedule of the All-Star break.