Juan Soto wasted no time making an impact with his new team. In his first spring training game as a New York Met, he launched a 426-foot home run to right field against Houston Astros pitcher Colton Gordon. This impressive first at-bat gave the Mets an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of Saturday's game.

The home run marks the beginning of Soto's tenure with the Mets, who signed him to a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract during the offseason. This monumental deal is the richest in professional sports history. New York brought Soto in hoping to bolster their lineup and build on last season's surprise run to the NLCS. The Mets ultimately fell short against the Los Angeles Dodgers in that series.

Securing Soto raised questions about whether the Mets could also retain free agent first baseman Pete Alonso. The team managed to re-sign Alonso, providing Soto with a powerful batting partner and adding even more strength to the Mets' offense.

At just 26 years old, Soto already boasts an impressive career. The four-time All-Star had his best season in 2024 with the Yankees, hitting .288 with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs. He further elevated his performance during the Yankees' World Series run, boasting a .327 average with four home runs in 14 games.

Soto began his career with the Washington Nationals in 2018, playing a key role in their 2019 World Series victory against the Houston Astros. He was later traded to the San Diego Padres in 2022 and then to the Yankees before the 2024 season. Along with his All-Star selections, Soto is a five-time Silver Slugger award winner and claimed the batting title during the abbreviated 2020 season.