/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn-tor.buminteractif.com%2F2026%2F02%2F11001517%2FSoto-1024x683-1-1.jpg)
The New York Mets have announced a major change for the upcoming season.
Juan Soto, who will be in his second year with the organization, will change positions. Instead of playing right field, he will play on the other side, in left field. President David Stearns made the announcement.
Juan Soto will play left field for the Mets in 2026
David Stearns on the move: “Juan was working out in LF…he felt really comfortable there. It made sense for us from a roster perspective. Not something we had contemplated, but as we've had conversations it made sense.” pic.twitter.com/a9mSMBYjHJ
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) February 10, 2026
Stearns said that after talking to the outfielder and giving the Dominican player time to work at that position, the decision was made for the good of the team as a whole.
In a few years, the same text will be written, but saying that he will play as a DH. He's not good defensively and he's paid for his bat…
Luis Robert Jr. will be in center field (when he's healthy) and several players will share the work in right field. Brandon Nimmo was the Mets' regular left fielder in 2025, but he's now in Texas.
This isn't the first time Soto has changed fields. In his first three years in Washington, he played left field before moving to right field in 2021 and 2022.
Then, in 2023 (his last year in San Diego), he returned to left field to make room for Fernando Tatis Jr.
In 2024, in the Bronx, Aaron Judge moved to center field because Soto was more comfortable in right field. That's also the position he kept with the Mets in 2025 before the change ahead of the 2026 season.
Juan Soto's primary position by season
2018-20 = Left Field
2021-22 = Right Field
2023 = Left Field
2024-25 = Right Field
2026 = Left Field— Foolish Baseball (@FoolishBB) February 10, 2026
It should be noted that this isn't the only significant news for the Mets. After all, Francisco Lindor could undergo surgery on a bone in his left hand and could therefore miss six weeks.
If he undergoes surgery soon, his start to the season may not be compromised. But he may also not undergo surgery: we'll see.
Francisco Lindor, who was denied insurance to compete in the WBC, will be evaluated tomorrow and could need surgery on this hamate bone that would sideline him for 6 weeks, David Stearns announces.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 10, 2026
- Kyle Wright to the Cubs camp.
Kyle Wright to the Cubs. Minors deal with MLB camp invite. Wright is the majors' last 20-game winner.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 10, 2026
- Reese Olson will not pitch in 2026.
The Tigers quietly had a need for Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander with the news that Tigers starter Reese Olson will miss the season having right shoulder labral repair surgery on Feb. 2
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 10, 2026
This content was created with the help of AI.
