New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto addressed comments made by manager Carlos Mendoza regarding his effort on the basepaths following the team's 3-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Mendoza's criticism came after Soto hit a ball off the Green Monster at Fenway Park but ultimately settled for a single after not running hard out of the box.

"I think I've been hustling pretty hard. If you see it today, you could tell," Soto stated to reporters after the game. Mendoza highlighted the need for a more aggressive approach, noting that players must be proactive in their hustle with regard to certain ballpark dimensions. "He thought he had it. In this ballpark with that wall right there, you gotta get out of the box. We'll discuss that," Mendoza remarked.

Historically, a well-struck ball hitting the Green Monster at Fenway Park typically results in at least a double, a standard that Soto did not meet on this occasion. Instead of immediately advancing, Soto appeared to admire his hit, believing it might carry over the fence, which ultimately cost him the opportunity for extra bases. Soto's performance included a 1-for-4 outing at the plate, bringing his batting average to .246. This scrutiny of Soto's hustle follows similar criticism after the Mets' recent 8-2 loss to the New York Yankees, where he faced questions regarding his effort during a ground out in the eighth inning. During this play, Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu made a sliding backhand grab and threw from his knees to secure the out, leading to debates over whether Soto could have beaten the throw with greater urgency. In his first season with the Mets, Soto is experiencing one of the most challenging campaigns of his career, posting a .246 batting average, which ties for the second-lowest of his tenure, alongside a .376 on-base percentage, the lowest he has recorded to date.