Bad Base Running Leads to Juan Soto Hitting 354-Foot Lineout to the First Baseman

Stephen Douglas | May 27, 2025

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza talks with umpire Sean Barber after an unique play. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Juan Soto found himself involved involved in another base running lowlight during the New York Mets game against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night. With a runner on first in the bottom of the first inning, Soto hit a line drive to right-center and Chicago centerfielder Michael Taylor attempted to make a diving catch.

Taylor did not get there in time to make the catch, but he did trap the ball, which really confused the Mets. Soto, who might have been looking at an extra base hit when the ball left the bat, thought he was out, so he got out of Nimmo's way as he hustled back to first, having also thought the ball was caught.

When the ball got back to the infield the White Sox touched second and then tagged Soto while Nimmo stood on first.

Juan Soto was called out after Brandon Nimmo passed him on the base paths on a hit that was trapped by Michael A. Taylor pic.twitter.com/SUgy5DuEbU

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 27, 2025

According to home plate umpire Sean Barber, in the end Soto was ruled out for passing Nimmo. And despite the fact that the centerfielder, second baseman and shortstop all handled the ball on the play, it went down as an unassisted lineout to first baseman Miguel Vargas on a ball that was hit 354 feet into the outfield.

Juan Soto hit a 354-foot line out to first. / MLB.com

🚨WEIRD JUAN SOTO PLAY ALERT🚨

Another weird one with Juan Soto of the @Mets as earlier today vs. to @whitesox, his ball to center is trapped by Michael A. Taylor. Brandon Nimmo is on first and thinks the ball is caught, so he heads from second back to first while Soto is… pic.twitter.com/9lwTdPLDED

— MLB Scoring Changes (@ScoringChanges) May 27, 2025

Somehow the Mets went on to score four runs in this inning.

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