Juan Soto Vows 100% Return in 2026 Despite Grade 2 Left Calf Strain

New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto is sidelined until September with a Grade 2 left calf strain but maintains he will return to the lineup this season.

New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto is currently sidelined with a Grade 2 left calf strain, an injury diagnosed after he exited Friday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning. Despite the severity of the ailment, which is expected to keep him out of action until September, the 27-year-old stated he "100%" expects to play again before the conclusion of the 2026 season. Soto aggravated the muscle while running the bases after playing through nagging discomfort for the week prior to the Dodgers series.

Soto currently leads the Mets with a .947 OPS, a mark that ranks third across all of Major League Baseball. In his second year of a record-breaking $765 million contract, the outfielder is batting .283 with 21 home runs. These statistics follow a 2025 campaign where he finished third in National League MVP voting. However, this latest medical setback marks his second stint on the injured list this year involving calf strains in both legs. He previously missed nearly three weeks in April due to a right calf strain.

Roster Impact and Trade Deadline Outlook

The Mets entered Monday’s series opener against the first-place Atlanta Braves holding the third-worst record in the majors. This standing comes despite the organization carrying the second-highest payroll in baseball. According to FanGraphs, the team faces a 99.5% probability of missing the postseason for the second consecutive year. Consequently, the front office is poised to evaluate the roster ahead of next Monday’s trade deadline.

Potential trade candidates include five impending free agents: right-handed starters Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes, left-handed relievers A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley, and outfielder Tyrone Taylor. The club may also consider moving players with control beyond 2027, such as outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and right-handed relievers Luke Weaver and Huascar Brazoban. Soto described the current situation as frustrating, noting the team never expected to be in this position at this point in the year.

Durability and Recovery Timeline

Prior to the 2026 season, Soto was recognized as one of the most durable athletes in the sport. Over his first seven full major league campaigns, he landed on the injured list only three times and missed a total of 52 games. The current year has deviated from that trend, as he has now faced two separate IL stints for leg injuries. Soto noted the rarity of the situation, stating he does not remember the last time he was placed on the IL twice in a single calendar year.

Interim manager Andy Green emphasized that the team intends to activate Soto as soon as he is healthy, rather than shutting him down for the remainder of the lost season. Green cited a responsibility to the fans to field the best available players and expressed confidence that the recovery timeline allows for a meaningful return. The manager noted that once Soto reaches the necessary physical benchmarks, the focus will shift to winning the remaining games on the schedule.

Statistical Context of the 2026 Season

While the Mets struggle at the bottom of the standings, Soto remains the lone All-Star representative for the club. His performance at the plate has been one of the few consistent positives for a team dealing with significant volatility. The Grade 2 diagnosis on his left calf is more severe than his April injury, yet the strength coaches and trainers in New York are working daily to facilitate his rehabilitation. Soto emphasized a day-by-day approach to his recovery, focusing on what can be accomplished in the present to assist the team upon his return to the grass.