The Summer of Soto: National League Player of the Month
After what New York Media deemed a “slow start” for the generational ballplayer, Juan Soto delivered one of the most dominant months in Mets history. The Mets’ $765 million cornerstone slugger was named National League Player of the Month for June, and the numbers speak for themselves: slashing .322/.474/.722, 11 home runs, 20 RBI, 25 walks, and a 1.196 OPS that led all of baseball.
An unbelievable June for Soto 😤
Congrats to Juan Soto on being named NL Player of the Month! pic.twitter.com/a5T4P3lujQ
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 3, 2025
Back-to-Back Mets
It’s the first time in his eight-year career that Soto has won the monthly honor, which feels almost comical considering the resumé. But this one was unavoidable. His 11 home runs tied a career high (also August 2020), and are the third-most ever by a Met in a single month.
Mets slugger Juan Soto is the National League Player of the Month for June! pic.twitter.com/qJJbk4Mgpj
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 3, 2025
He also joins Darryl Strawberry (May 1987) as the only Mets to pair 10+ homers and draw 20+ walks in a single calendar month.
And for those keeping score at home: Pete Alonso won the award in April. Soto wins it in June. That’s the first time two Mets have earned Player of the Month honors in the same season since 1985, when Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter pulled it off.
Juan Soto is the NL Player of the Month for June after batting .322 with 11 homers, 25 walks and a 1.196 OPS.
Pete Alonso won Player of the Month honors back in April, making this the second time the Mets have had two winners in a year. (Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter in 1985.)
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 3, 2025
That’s not just good company—that’s a small preview of what this duo can do for the franchise.
Soto entered June with a .770 OPS and just nine home runs. Now July, he owns a .895 OPS with 20 bombs, ranking 11th in MLB in both OPS and homers as of Thursday. That’ll play.
Soto’s Impact Beyond Stats
Meanwhile, the Mets are hoping his turnaround becomes contagious. After holding a 5.5-game NL East lead in mid-June, they’ve dropped 14 of 18 and now sit 2.0 games back of the Phillies. But at 49-38, they’re still six games better than this point last season—and very much in playoff position.
The last three players with 70+ walks, 20+ home runs and 10+ stolen bases in their team’s first 87 games of a season:
Jeff Bagwell: 1999
Mike Trout: 2018
Juan Soto: 2025 https://t.co/HjQVXUUHWT— Mathew Brownstein (@MBrownstein89) July 3, 2025
With a chunk of the roster due back from the IL soon and the trade deadline creeping in, the script isn’t set. Soto already flipped his—now it’s on the rest of the clubhouse to follow his lead. The Mets face the Brewers tonight with a chance to take the series before Juan welcomes the Yankees to his house this weekend.
July is here. Soto’s scorching. And the Mets feel pretty back to me. Consider the rest of the league officially on notice.
