Eric Chavez raves about all ways Juan Soto is…
PORT ST. LUCIE — Eric Chavez has long been a fan of great hitters.
From his own taking part in days, he tried to emulate Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds.
More lately, his eyes have been drawn to one other lefty-swinger: Juan Soto.
And after telling The Post’s Joel Sherman earlier this spring that watching Soto’s pre-workout routine gave him “goose bumps,” the Mets hitting coach has discovered himself even more impressed after attending to watch him play in video games — albeit nonetheless in spring coaching — on a common foundation for the previous three weeks.
“To see it from afar is fantastic,” Chavez stated of Soto’s means on the plate. “The closer he gets to you, the more you go ‘Whoa, that’s different.’ ”
Even during Grapefruit League video games, Soto applies the identical disciplined, affected person method he does within the common season.
It wowed the Yankees a 12 months in the past and is doing the identical factor in Mets camp.
Chavez has been so impressed by what he’s seen from Soto, he may solely assume of one different hitter to check him to, and it’s not Griffey Jr.
Juan Soto takes a swing during the Mets’ exhibition win over the Marlins on March 17, 2025. Rhona Wise-Imagn Images
“I think Bonds was as close to a perfect hitter as I’ve ever seen and Soto is right there on his heels,’’ Chavez said. “It’s pretty special. You kind of anticipate what he’s gonna be like when he gets here, but it’s not the same. It’s about as good as I’ve ever seen. I’m glad he’s on our side.”
As Carlos Mendoza stated, “It’s a show.”
“When he comes to the plate, you can tell the difference in the stadium and in our dugout,’’ Mendoza said. “People stop what they’re doing and just watch because they don’t want to miss anything. Not even a pitch.”
Watching Soto on daily basis, his singularity doesn’t come solely from his energy or means to get on base.
Mets hitting coach Eric Chavez stated Juan Soto reminds him of Barry Bonds. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
It’s the way in which he takes pitches, trying them into the glove and barely being fooled.
The method begins nicely earlier than he will get into the box.
“His level of thinking of what the pitcher is gonna do is one of a kind,’’ Chavez said. “He’s always one step ahead of the pitcher. He talked about facing [Kodai] Senga one time and he knew what to do with the next pitch. Sometimes, if guys have 50 at-bats against a guy, they might have a good idea of what the pitcher is doing. Soto can do it after one or two at-bats. It’s next level.”
And Chavez is aware of when it’s taking place.
Mets hitting coach Eric Chavez watches Juan Soto do some batting cage work earlier in spring coaching. New York Mets
“Sometimes, a guy throws a pitch and Soto lets it go and you see him laughing,’’ Chavez said. “Right there, he’s calculating his next at-bat. And you’re almost sure he’s gonna get him, if he doesn’t do it on the next pitch.”
Both Chavez and Mendoza consider a minimum of some of Soto’s traits can rub off on his teammates.
“He can influence everyone else in the lineup,’’ Chavez said. “He’s not loud, saying ‘Do this’ or ‘Do that.’ You can just watch him, watch his practice and take things.”
“Guys gravitate towards him,” Mendoza stated. “Just by being around him, talking hitting, guys are going to pick things up and get better.”
Still, as Chavez stated, “There’s only one Juan Soto in the world.”
“You can just do what you can do,’’ Chavez said. “I wanted to hit like Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds and I’d try to do it and I’d say, ‘Oh, right, I’m not Ken Griffey Jr. or Barry Bonds.’ But there are things you can do. You might not be able to do what he can, but Soto can definitely help good hitters like Francisco Alvarez and Jesse Winker be the best version of themselves. You just have to pay attention.”
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