Juan Soto vows to return to Mets before season ends

Juan Soto is progressing in his recovery from a Grade 2 left calf strain and vows he will return to the New York Mets before the season ends, even though there is still no official activation timetable. The star outfielder has advanced to on-field running and wind sprints at Citi Field after last playing on July 24.

The 27-year-old has not appeared in a Major League game since he was hurt against the Los Angeles Dodgers. New York placed him on the 10-day injured list the next day, July 25. Soto has been sidelined for weeks, but he has been clear that he intends to play again before 2026 is over.

Key Takeaways

• Juan Soto has progressed to on-field running and completed wind sprints at Citi Field while recovering from a Grade 2 left calf strain.
• He has not played since July 24 and remains on the injured list with no official activation date.
• Soto has vowed to rejoin the Mets before the season ends and said he wants the club to finish strong.
• This is his second calf-related injured-list stint of 2026 after a right-calf injury in April.
• He still needs a hitting ramp-up and will likely need a brief minor league rehab assignment, per NBC Sports.

When will Juan Soto return to the Mets?

There is still no official timetable for Soto's activation from the injured list. According to MLB.com, he was seen completing several wind sprints in the outfield without problems before New York's series opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.

During the Mets' series against the San Diego Padres, a video also circulated of Soto doing running drills. NBC Sports reported on Aug. 18 that he had progressed to on-field running, which it said appeared to back up his belief that he will play again this season.

Soto told reporters he wants to rejoin a Mets team that has been playing better. "We are playing really good baseball right now," Soto said. "Why not try to rejoin this team? It would be really fun."

"It would be great for me and the team. [I want to] finish the season strong and keep the momentum for next year, too."

How serious is Soto's left calf strain?

The Mets diagnosed a Grade 2 left calf strain after Soto was injured July 24 against the Dodgers. Interim manager Andy Green said then that the injury would keep him out for at least three weeks, if not longer.

It is Soto's second trip to the injured list this season. He previously went on the IL in April with a similar strain in his right calf. MLB.com reported that he had already missed 38 games entering Friday's action.

"It's tough for me to lose so many games. I've never been on this side of it," Soto said. He said he has to adjust his training and conditioning. Soto added that he has to learn more about how his body works.

Before the injury, Soto had slashed .283/.408/.539 with 21 home runs and 52 RBIs in 84 games. NBC Sports also listed 46 runs and seven stolen bases in 359 plate appearances over that span. The Mets were 40-44 in games he played.

Where can you watch the Mets while Soto recovers?

Soto still needs to ramp up a hitting progression. NBC Sports said he will likely require a brief minor league rehab assignment before he is ready to return to New York, with a clearer timetable possibly coming in the coming weeks.

While he works back, the Mets have shown better form. MLB.com noted a 6-3 mark on their most recent road trip. Heavy.com reported New York was 7-3 over a 10-game stretch after sweeping the Nationals and beating the Padres 2-1 to open that series, even though the club remained far from a playoff position.

Heavy.com listed a Mets-Padres game at 7:10 p.m. ET during the series. For live channel and streaming details on Mets telecasts and other sports, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.