Mets' Juan Soto cracks joke about verbal exchange with opposing pitcher

Mets slugger Juan Soto's response to a verbal altercation he had with an opponent suggests he has his swagger back.

Jun 7, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; New York Mets right tielder Juan Soto (22) reacts in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The New York Mets improved their NL-leading record to 43-24 after their 5-4 win over the Washington Nationals on June 10.

The Mets' only home run of the game came from the bat of Juan Soto, who blasted a 373-foot home run to left-center field off of Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore in the third inning.

Juan Soto brings the @Mets closer with an opposite-field homer 💪 pic.twitter.com/rKU49eoQJr

— MLB (@MLB) June 11, 2025

As Soto was rounding the bases, it appeared that he and Gore were exchanging words with each other, presumably because Gore was frustrated about how Soto celebrated the home run. While the broadcast was more focused on Soto and therefore couldn't see what Gore was saying, the 26-year-old slugger was clearly speaking in his direction.

Read more: Could this righty trade target solve New York Mets' southpaw reliever woes?

Soto was asked about this exchange when speaking with the media postgame, and decided to crack a joke in response.

"We were saying hi to each other. That's it," a seemingly sarcastic Soto said, per an X post from SNY. This caused the entire media around him to start laughing.

Juan Soto was asked if he was jawing at MacKenzie Gore while rounding third base on his homer:

"We were saying hi to each other, that's it" 😂 pic.twitter.com/Mo6LexaumC

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 11, 2025

Soto is familiar with Gore, as he has more at-bats against him (12) than any other pitcher on the Nationals aside from one. While this was Soto's first home run against him, he does have 3 total hits to go along with 6 strikeouts.

If anything, Soto talking a little trash (or "saying hi", in his words) combined with this cheeky postgame response suggests that he might finally have his swagger back, which is further confirmed by how great Soto has been at the plate of late.

Soto will look to bring this same swagger into the Mets' June 11 game against Washington.