For a while there, it felt like the Mets were just stuck in neutral. Big names? Plenty. Big wins? Not so much. Fans weren’t panicking yet, but let’s just say nobody was printing World Series tickets either.

Juan Soto’s first few weeks in a Mets uniform were more shrug than superstar. The bullpen couldn’t close a screen door. And even though the team had talent, something just wasn’t clicking.

Now it's a different story. The Mets are rolling, winning 8 of their last 9, and holding the best record in the National League. The recent road trip — capped by an extra-inning win over the Dodgers — sent a real message.

This team might finally be turning into the contender they were built to be.

Offseason Hype, Early Season Hangover

This past offseason, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns went shopping like a man with a blank check. Juan Soto got a historic $765 million deal — the kind of contract that’s supposed to come with immediate results. Sean Manaea came back on a new three-year deal after opting out. Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes, Paul Blackburn — all added to patch up what had been an inconsistent pitching staff. It was bold, aggressive, and on paper, it looked like the Mets had filled every obvious hole.

But like most things in baseball, what looks good in the winter doesn’t always show up in April.

Soto struggled to find his rhythm early, hitting just .219 with a single home run in his first 20 games. The starting rotation never quite settled in, as both Manaea and Montas dealt with injuries early.

By the time May rolled around, the Mets were sitting at 16-15 — which, in a vacuum, isn’t anything to panic over. But considering the money spent and the names brought in, it definitely felt underwhelming. The big spark everyone expected from the offseason moves just hadn’t shown up yet. Fans weren’t jumping ship, but the early-season optimism had definitely cooled. There was this lingering sense that the team should’ve been playing better — and that they knew it too.

The Meeting That Reset the Mojo

If it feels like you’ve heard this story before, you kind of have. The Mets’ big turnaround in 2024 started after a players-only meeting in late May, and this season, it was deja vu — but with a twist. In early May, after a frustrating road trip, Francisco Lindor gathered the team’s veterans for a conversation on the flight back from D.C. It wasn’t some dramatic blow-up or teary speech. Just Lindor being the leader he’s become — saying, hey, we’ve got to be better, and here’s where it starts.

Soto joined the conversation too, which mattered. When your newest star is bought in and not just coasting on reputation, it sets a tone. The players talked through the little things — missed signs, bad at-bats, leaving runners in scoring position — and the general sense that everyone needed to take more ownership of the day-to-day.

Since that meeting, the Mets have gone 22-7.

Brett Baty: Proof That Work Works

No breakout sums up the Mets’ turnaround better than Brett Baty. The former first-round pick looked lost at the plate through April, hitting just .204 before the team sent him down to Triple-A on April 24. It wasn’t exactly shocking — he needed a reset — but what’s happened since he came back has been something else.

Two weeks in Syracuse gave him an opportunity to a long look at Juan Soto’s approach, and he started tweaking everything from his stance to his timing. He widened his base, opened up slightly, and focused on being still in the box.

He started attacking pitches early instead of trying to react late. The difference shows up in the numbers, sure — .290 average, five home runs, and a .914 OPS since May 7 — but it’s the confidence that jumps out most.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said it best:

"Brett is a perfect example right here where he’s watching an elite player going through some tough moments, and he’s the same guy with the same routine." 

Soto’s Slow Start

Let’s be real — when the Mets signed Juan Soto to that massive deal, the expectation was that he’d light up the scoreboard from Day 1. Instead, through the first month, Soto’s numbers were, flatly, bad. He hit .219 in April with a .752 OPS and just a single home run.

Still, there were signs it was just a matter of time. In May, the results started to trend in the right direction. He bumped his average up to .261, led the league in walks with 32, and looked way more comfortable at the plate. The power numbers weren’t quite there yet, but he was seeing the ball better and staying within his approach.

Behind the scenes, the Mets aren't worried. His chase rate is still one of the best in baseball, his hard-hit numbers are steady, and the swings haven’t gotten lazy — it’s all about timing.

Making a Statement in L.A.

Monday night in Chavez Ravine felt like the kind of game you circle on the calendar — an NLCS rematch, and more importantly, a real gut check. The Mets rolled into Dodger Stadium carrying a bit of momentum, but this was a chance to prove that the hot stretch wasn’t just a product of a lighter schedule. This was L.A., in prime time, against Shohei Ohtani and one of the most complete lineups in the game.

The tone was set early. Francisco Lindor jumped on the second pitch of the game and sent it into the seats for a quick 1-0 lead. Then came Paul Blackburn, making his season debut after battling injuries. You’d never know it from the way he pitched. Five scoreless innings, 63 pitches, mostly soft contact. It wasn’t flashy, but it was exactly what the Mets needed. Efficient, composed, and quietly dominant.

Of course, no game against the Dodgers goes quietly. In the seventh, Shohei Ohtani did what he does — launching his 23rd home run to put the Dodgers on the board. Then in the ninth, his sac fly knotted it at 2-2.

But credit to the Mets — they didn’t flinch. In the tenth, Francisco Alvarez, who hadn’t driven in a run in nearly a month, smoked an RBI double to right. Lindor followed with a clutch single to drive in an insurance run, and then Jose Butto — in a huge spot — came in and locked down his first career save.

Final score: 4-3, Mets in 10. It wasn’t clean, and it wasn’t easy. But it was the kind of win that shows what this team is made of — resilient, opportunistic, and not afraid of the moment. If folks weren’t paying attention yet, they are now.

What Comes Next

The Mets aren’t exactly coasting into June. After wrapping up this tough set in L.A., they’ve got to head back east for divisional matchups against the Phillies and Braves — two teams that aren’t going to roll over, especially with first place still well within reach.

The good news is, the Mets aren't even fully healthy yet. Sean Manaea threw a 35-pitch sim game earlier this week, looking like he’s not far off. Frankie Montas is trailing him by about a week. That’s a pretty big sigh of relief for the rotation.

Living Up to Expectations

The Mets were supposed to be good — that was never the issue. The question was whether they’d live up to it. For the first few weeks, they didn’t. But now, as June rolls in, it feels like the pieces are finally clicking into place.

Soto’s getting there. Lindor looks locked in. Baty’s turned a corner. And even with some key arms still working their way back, the pitching staff has more than held up.

This isn’t some perfect, runaway team. It’s a group that’s taken some punches and was forced to make some adjustments. The hype wasn’t fake — it was just early.

There’s a lot of baseball left, but for the first time all year, the Mets look ready for it.