Here’s the thing about the New York Mets: when they lose, they don’t just lose. They spiral. Nine of their last ten have gone in the wrong column, and now they’re staring up at the Phillies from five games back in the NL East. If Philly hadn’t stumbled a bit themselves, that gap would look even uglier. So what do Mets fans and New York sports radio hosts do when the team is sliding? They scramble for answers. Rational ones, irrational ones, and in this case, downright laughable ones.
Enter WFAN’s Brandon Tierney, who decided the problem with the Mets wasn’t pitching depth, wasn’t lineup inconsistency, wasn’t a team-wide funk — no, no. The real issue, in his mind, is that Juan Soto might not actually be 26 years old. Yes, you read that right. The $765 million man, one of the best hitters of his generation, is suddenly at the center of a conspiracy theory that boils down to: “He doesn’t have the youthful glow of a 26-year-old.”
Soto Is Not the Mets’ Problem
Now, let’s pause here. Soto isn’t just holding his own in Queens — he’s thriving, even as the Mets collapse around him. Over their brutal 10-game stretch, he’s hitting .297 with a 1.044 OPS and four homers. Eleven hits in 37 at-bats, eight walks mixed in. That’s star-level production, no matter how you slice it. If you’re pointing fingers at him for this skid, you’re just not watching the games.
Sure, he’s not winning Gold Gloves in right field, and he’s not exactly a burner on the basepaths. But that’s never been his game. His value has always been at the plate — the bat speed, the zone control, the ability to crush mistakes and grind out walks. He debuted at 19. He won a World Series at 20. He’s been in the spotlight so long that people forget he’s still squarely in his prime.
The Bigger Issue With the Conspiracy
The worst part of Tierney’s comments isn’t just that they’re wrong — it’s the lazy stereotypes they lean on. Let’s be blunt: no American-born white player in Soto’s position would have his age questioned like this.
It’s tired, it’s unfair, and it’s got no place on New York’s airwaves, especially in a city as diverse as this one. Juan Soto has played nonstop, year after year, at the highest level of competition. If he looks more like a veteran than a wide-eyed rookie, it’s because he is a veteran. A young one, but a veteran nonetheless.
So while the Mets keep searching for answers to stop their freefall, here’s one thing fans can cross off the list: Juan Soto. He’s not the problem. He’s 26, he’s still awesome, and he’s still producing at an All-Star level. If the Mets want to fix what’s broken, they might start by tuning out the radio static and looking everywhere except at their best hitter.
