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Juan Soto Classily Credited Mets Coach After Reaching Exclusive Club

Soto became just the fifth Mets player to join the 30-homer, 30-stolen base club.

Tim Capurso

Soto has reached new heights as a base-stealer thanks to the shrewd coaching of Antoan Richardson (right).
Soto has reached new heights as a base-stealer thanks to the shrewd coaching of Antoan Richardson (right). / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
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Juan Soto has made joining rare statistical company a routine part of his impressive career in the majors.

But during Tuesday's 9-3 loss to the Phillies, the Mets star may have pulled off one of his most impressive achievements yet. In the top of the eighth inning, Soto, after collecting an RBI single and advancing to second base on a Pete Alonso single, stole third.

It wasn't just any stolen base, though, as it was Soto's 30th of the year, giving him 38 home runs and 30 swipes on the season. It's an amazing achievement, considering Soto has never been known for his speed. It also earns him a seat in the exclusive 30-30 club.

After the game, Soto was quick to credit Mets first base coach Antoan Richardson for helping him reach new heights as a base stealer.

"I mean it's good when you look at it that way," Soto said when asked about the achievement. "I think a lot of hard work we put in since the beginning of the season. Antoan did an unbelievable job. He's been helping me since day one. I give him all the credit. He's the one who put me in this situation and this spot to do what I've done."

Richardson, in his second season with the Mets, stole 331 bases in the minors and knows a thing or two about swiping bases. He's had a profound impact on the club's base-stealing success as a whole, so it was great to see Soto credit the former big-league outfielder as he reached a new statistical height on the base paths.

Soto is just the fifth Mets player to record 30 homers and 30 stolen bases in a single season.

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Tim Capurso
TIM CAPURSO

Tim Capurso is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in November 2023, he wrote for RotoBaller and ClutchPoints, where he was the lead editor for MLB, college football and NFL coverage. A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, Capurso grew up just outside New York City and now lives near Philadelphia. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family, including his three-legged cat Willow, who, unfortunately, is an Eagles fan.

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