Juan Soto left Wednesday’s matchup with Detroit after fouling a ball off his right foot in the third inning. He tried to shake it off, limped back to the plate and struck out, then grounded out in the sixth before being pinch‑hit by MJ Melendez in the seventh with runners on the corners. The injury forced a premature exit for the Mets star for the club.

Soto, who returned on April 22 after a right calf strain, has split time between left field and designated hitter, batting .263 with four homers and a .801 OPS this season. His contract, a record‑breaking $765 million deal over 15 years, underscores the stakes of his health for the franchise. The Mets already list four starters—Lindor, Polanco, Robert Jr., and Alvarez—on the injured list.

The latest setback adds pressure to a roster already thinned by injuries, with Alvarez’s meniscus tear slated for surgery. Manager Carlos Mendoza watched Soto limp back to the box before the substitution, a visual reminder of the depth concerns haunting New York. With the Mets’ offensive core compromised, every lineup adjustment now carries amplified importance in the upcoming series.