"He knew what was coming": Subway Series boos didn’t rattle Juan Soto, according to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza

Juan Soto's long-awaited return to Yankee Stadium didn’t exactly come with a hero’s welcome. As he stepped onto the field in pinstripes—but for the other New York team—the Mets star quickly realized that his prediction of “50,000 against one” may have actually fallen short. The Bronx crowd let him have it from the first pitch to the last out, making his re-entry one of the most hostile homecomings seen in recent Subway Series history.The three-game showdown between the Mets and Yankees wasn’t just another series—it was an emotional gauntlet for Soto. Boos rained down mercilessly, fans hurled chants laced with profanity, and in a striking moment, many even turned their backs on him during his jog to right field. It was clear: forgiveness wasn’t on the menu.Despite the charged atmosphere, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was quick to point out that Soto wasn’t rattled. “I don’t think so,” Mendoza said. “I said it before the game—he embraced it. He knew what was coming and he didn’t change.” Mendoza praised Soto’s consistency, noting, “Even though today was pretty much the only game where we didn’t see results... You just got to give credit to their pitching staff. Especially a guy like [Max] Fried today.”Soto’s numbers across the series reflected both caution and confrontation from the Yankees' pitching staff. He went 1-for-10, drew four walks, scored twice, and even stole two bases. Yet, not everything went smoothly—his lack of urgency on a routine grounder to DJ LeMahieu in the eighth inning raised a few eyebrows.Still, the bigger picture paints Soto as a resilient competitor. “He’s an elite player,” Mendoza added. “Only elite players are the ones that are getting booed everywhere they go.”As of now, Soto is slashing .246/.379/.443 with eight homers and 20 RBIs in the 2025 season. And while Yankee Stadium didn’t show him any love this time, Citi Field might offer a different kind of energy when the rivalry resumes over Fourth of July weekend. Expect fireworks—on and off the field.Also Read: "I messed it up": Pete Alonso’s brutal blunder hands Yankees a golden chance in chaotic Mets collapse late in the game