Juan Soto’s return to Yankee Stadium was anything but a warm welcome. Once embraced as a hero in the Bronx, the Mets’ new $765 million superstar was met with relentless boos in his first game back, underscoring just how intense the Subway Series rivalry has become.
Soto, who helped lead the Yankees to the 2024 World Series before signing a record-breaking 15-year deal with the crosstown Mets, faced the full fury of a fanbase that once adored him. Last season, he was a force at the plate 80% better than average by wRC+ and played a crucial role in the Yankees’ American League title run. His swagger and production had many assuming he would return. Even after the World Series loss to the Dodgers, fans were still buying his No. 22 jerseys.
But Soto shocked many when he turned down a 16-year, $760 million offer from the Yankees, opting instead to join the Mets. Whether it was for a slightly larger payday or a preference for a different corner of New York, the decision stung. And on Friday night, the Bronx let him know it.
The opening game of the Subway Series also marked the launch of MLB’s ‘Rivalry Weekend,’ and it didn’t disappoint. Both teams entered the matchup atop their divisions, a rarity in the long history of interborough battles. The energy was palpable. Yet any hopes of a mixed reception for Soto were quickly dashed. From his first at-bat, he was booed relentlessly. Fans turned their backs when he ran out to right field. Profanity, middle fingers, and altered jerseys filled the stands. One fan had taped a vulgar message over the nameplate of a Soto Yankees jersey. Another scribbled “Arroz” over the number 22, a nod to Ben Rice, the Yankees’ current holder of the number.
At one point, Soto threw a ball into the stands after an inning, only to watch it hurled back onto the field by a spurned fan. But Soto took it all in stride, responding with a salute and a wry smile. He’d known the boos were coming.
The Yankees had not simply sulked over Soto’s departure. Instead of spending big on one superstar, they retooled the roster with key additions like Max Fried, Devin Williams, Paul Goldschmidt, and Cody Bellinger. Fried, in particular, has been dominant, boasting the lowest ERA in baseball. His performance has been essential for a team that lost ace Gerrit Cole for the season and has yet to see Luis Gil take the mound.
Meanwhile, the Mets’ strategy under new general manager David Stearns has prioritized offense. Soto was the ultimate prize. Their rotation, constructed with budget-conscious decisions like converting reliever Clay Holmes into a starter, currently leads MLB in ERA. The irony isn’t lost: the Yankees, who let Soto walk, now have one of baseball’s best offenses, while the Mets, who broke the bank for him, have the strongest pitching.
In the end, the Yankees overpowered the Mets in a 6-2 win, with Soto recording three walks, a stolen base, and a run. His final at-bat came with the bases loaded in the ninth, but he flied out to end the game.
Afterward, Soto acknowledged the hostility, saying he had expected it and was ready to embrace the moment. If things go right with the Mets, this might be the last time he leaves a team on bitter terms. Either way, the Subway Series has a new edge and it’s only just getting started.
