Let it be stated that Juan Soto of the New York Mets is hardly struggling this season, his first since signing a record $765 million free-agent contract with the Queenslanders over the winter. After his first 16 games as a Met,

Ahead of Monday’s 5-1 win against the Minnesota Twins, when Soto featured a .409 on-base percentage with one home run and four RBIs, the Mets’ $765 million man talked about what it’s like not having Judge’s lineup protection.

New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto told Mike Puma of the New York Post that he was "pitched differently last year," when he was with the New York Yankees and had two-time American League MVP Aaron Judge hitting behind him.