Mets' Juan Soto dealing with forearm tightness, will continue to DH for time being

TL;DR

Juan Soto is experiencing forearm tightness but will continue to serve as the Mets' designated hitter. An MRI showed no structural damage, and he may return to the outfield in the coming days.

Key points

Juan Soto is currently DH for the Mets.
He is dealing with forearm tightness.
An MRI showed no structural damage.
The team is cautious due to his previous calf injury.
Soto may return to the outfield soon.

Mentioned in this story

Carlos Mendoza

Juan SotoMets

Since returning from the injured list on April 22, Juan Soto has been the Mets' DH in all five games he's played.

Looking to avoid a long-term injury, the team said they would take it slow with his return from a calf injury and has not inserted him back into the outfield yet. But by now, some could have expected him to have played at least one game in the field. So with Soto in the lineup as DH again for Tuesday's game against the Washington Nationals, manager Carlos Mendoza was asked if the plan for the upcoming games will be for the star to continue to DH or not.

Mendoza shared that Soto is currently dealing with forearm tightness and underwent an MRI that came back clean, adding the hope is he will be able to play outfield again "in the next few days."

"On Friday, after the defensive work he complained about forearm tightness, after the throwing," Mendoza said. "Obviously he was DHing that day. Saturday we got rained out. Sunday, came in, pretty much felt the same. He threw, but you know, like 50-60 feet. Yesterday, came in, got treatment, and played catch.

"We did an MRI today and structurally it's fine. Ligament and all of that is fine. He's going to continue to get treatment. He's going to throw, he's going to continue to throw. And hopefully, he can play the outfield here in the next few days. Doesn't bother him to swing or anything like that, but we're dealing with that, too."

Soto last played LF on April 3 on the road against the San Francisco Giants, the game he exited after the top of the first inning with calf tightness. Overall this year, he's played seven games in left field and five as DH.

In the five games he's played since coming back, Soto has gone 3-for-15 with six walks and two strikeouts.

Mendoza also mentioned Tuesday that Luis Robert Jr. is day-to-day with lower back tightness, so having Soto available as an option defensively later in the week could help the team if Robert is still sidelined.

Carlos Mendoza says that Juan Soto is dealing with forearm tightness and the hope is for him to be able to play the outfield at some point in the next few days pic.twitter.com/IFnUzr2Hu3

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) April 28, 2026

Q&A

What is the current status of Juan Soto's forearm injury?

Juan Soto is dealing with forearm tightness, but an MRI revealed no structural damage.

Why is Juan Soto only playing as a designated hitter for the Mets?

Soto is playing as a designated hitter to avoid aggravating his calf injury and due to his current forearm tightness.

When is Juan Soto expected to return to the outfield?

The Mets hope Juan Soto will be able to play in the outfield within the next few days.