While we’re nearing the home stretch of the season, Juan Soto’s defensive play in his first year as a Met is on a downward spiral. With -10 outs above average and -10 fielding runs value, he has been ranked near the bottom of the league. This isn’t how it was meant to turn out. He was once the game’s most feared hitter, and along with Aaron Judge, he created a one-two punch that pitchers dreaded. Earlier this season, Soto didn’t dodge the truth when asked how it felt to step into the batter’s box without Judge hitting behind him.

The two players perfectly complemented each other. Judge’s home run threat ensured pitchers went after Soto, and Soto’s plate discipline meant Judge saw more hittable pitches.

“It’s definitely different,” Soto admitted previously. “I had the best hitter in baseball hitting behind me. Was getting more attacks and more pitches in the strike zone, fewer intentional walks, and things like that. I was pitched differently last year.”

His statement stirred a reaction that was anything but calm. The Dominican outfielder was accused of being disloyal to the New York Mets. But, according to David Ortiz, the Big Papi, his argument was valid. The former Boston Red Sox icon recently chimed in to defend Soto’s perspective: “I remember at the beginning of the season, Juan Soto made a comment about not having Aaron Judge behind him, and the people that don’t know took that as a criticism of a player that he’s into and has behind him right now. No, no, no, he makes a great point.”

Ortiz explained that Soto wasn’t throwing shade. All he did was point out the adjustment he now faced: “He had to be more selective now because he didn’t have Aaron judge.”

Despite the longtime Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, Ortiz made an admission. “Aaron Judge is one of my favorite people and players.” Further, he was reminded by the interviewer, “We don’t like the Yankees.” To that, Ortiz admitted with a chuckle, “Not at all!” However, his opinion of Judge stood apart from team loyalties.

So, while Soto’s honesty had stirred a massive controversy earlier, now Ortiz has reframed the perspective. Clearly, Soto isn’t at the top of everyone’s list, as he was last year. Across only 122 games played, he has hit 30 home runs. With 30 games still remaining, he can shake things up and silence critics of all shapes and sizes with his postseason play.

What’s troubling Soto defensively?

Between 2021 and 2024, Soto’s sprint speed was around 26.6 to 27 feet per second. In 2025, though, it dropped to 25.8 feet per second. That places him in only the 15th percentile compared to other position players.

That means most players are faster than him. The speed factor has also affected him in the outfield. Especially on fly balls, he ranks 77th of 88 qualified fielders in how much ground he covers at the start of a play. You see, Yankee Stadium and Citi Field happen to be very different ballparks. In the Bronx, the right field foul pole is only 314 feet from home plate.

Whereas in Queens, it’s 330 feet. The deepest section of right field in Yankee Stadium is 385 feet compared to 380 across the town. Moreover, Citi Field’s right field wall has a bend that goes into right center. At Yankee Stadium, it is just a straight wall from right field to right-center.

Per Rising Apple’s Noah Wright, the solution to Juan Soto’s defensive struggles may be simpler than it seems: he needs to stop positioning himself like he’s still at Yankee Stadium. The dimensions there are fundamentally different, yet he hasn’t adjusted his starting spot.

Since Soto’s biggest issue is with balls hit over his head, playing slightly deeper than the average 295 feet would give him a crucial extra moment to react. Furthermore, shifting a few steps to his left would address his difficulty with plays to his back right. These aren’t drastic changes, but they are necessary to make him a serviceable defender again.

Ultimately, Soto’s success hinges on his ability to adapt to his new surroundings—a transition he himself has recognized is still a work in progress.