Mets' Juan Soto suffers minor calf strain

Superstar outfielder expected to miss 1-2 weeks with injury

Apr. 5, 2026 at 11:08am by Ben Kaplan

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Mets star outfielder Juan Soto suffered a minor calf strain while running the bases in the first inning of Friday night's game against the Giants in San Francisco. The injury appears to have avoided a worst-case scenario, and Soto is expected to miss 1-2 weeks as he recovers.

Why it matters

Soto is a key offensive player for the Mets, so any significant injury would be a major blow to the team's playoff hopes. The Mets will need to carefully manage Soto's recovery to ensure he returns at full strength and doesn't risk re-aggravating the injury.

The details

Soto felt the calf strain while running the bases in the first inning of Friday's game against the Giants. He was removed from the game and underwent further evaluation, which revealed a minor strain that is not expected to sideline him for an extended period.

  • Soto suffered the injury in the first inning of the Mets' game against the Giants on Friday, April 4, 2026.
  • The Mets expect Soto to miss 1-2 weeks as he recovers from the calf strain.

The players

Juan Soto

A star outfielder for the New York Mets who suffered a minor calf strain in a game against the San Francisco Giants.

New York Mets

The Major League Baseball team that Juan Soto plays for, who will need to carefully manage his recovery from the calf injury.

San Francisco Giants

The opposing team the Mets were playing when Soto suffered the calf injury.

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What’s next

The Mets will monitor Soto's recovery over the next 48-72 hours to determine the full extent of the injury and establish a timeline for his return to the lineup.

The takeaway

While any injury to a star player is concerning, the Mets appear to have avoided a worst-case scenario with Soto's calf strain. Careful management of his recovery will be key to ensuring he can return to full strength and help the team make a playoff push.