Mets Place Juan Soto on IL with Calf Strain

Outfielder expected to miss 2-3 weeks with injury

Apr. 6, 2026 at 6:56pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball player swinging a bat, broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the Mets' blue and orange colors, conveying the disruption caused by Soto's injury to the team's lineup.Soto's injury forces the Mets to rearrange their outfield, exposing the team's depth and resilience.NYC Today

The New York Mets have placed star outfielder Juan Soto on the 10-day injured list due to a right calf strain. Soto is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with the injury, which is retroactive to April 4. Without Soto, the Mets will rely more heavily on Tyrone Taylor, Brett Baty and Jared Young in left field.

Why it matters

Soto's injury is a significant blow to the Mets, who were hoping to contend in the NL East this season. The 24-year-old slugger hit .314 with 37 home runs and 94 RBIs last year and was a key part of the Mets' lineup. His absence will put more pressure on the team's other outfielders to step up in his absence.

The details

The Mets placed Soto on the 10-day injured list on Monday, retroactive to April 4. The team expects him to miss 2-3 weeks as he recovers from the right calf strain. Soto had been hoping to avoid the IL, but the Mets decided to take a cautious approach with the injury.

  • Soto was placed on the IL on April 6, 2026.
  • The IL move is retroactive to April 4, 2026.
  • The earliest Soto could return is April 14, 2026 against the Dodgers.

The players

Juan Soto

A 24-year-old star outfielder for the New York Mets who hit .314 with 37 home runs and 94 RBIs last season.

Tyrone Taylor

An outfielder for the Mets who will see increased playing time with Soto out.

Brett Baty

An outfielder for the Mets who will also see more opportunities with Soto sidelined.

Jared Young

An outfielder for the Mets who will help fill the void left by Soto's injury.

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What’s next

The Mets will monitor Soto's recovery and hope to have him back in the lineup as soon as he is healthy enough to return, which is expected to be in 2-3 weeks.

The takeaway

Soto's injury is a significant setback for the Mets, who were counting on the young star to be a key part of their lineup this season. The team will need other players to step up in his absence as they try to stay competitive in the NL East race.