Juan and Elian Soto Share Spring Training Field for the First Time

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – An outfielder donned in a red Nationals No. 22 Soto jersey was seen warming up in right field at CACTI Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Meanwhile, in the Mets’ clubhouse, Juan Soto was preparing for the game. The excitement was palpable as this marked the first time the Soto brothers played in the same Major League Spring Training game.

The 26-year-old Mets star, Juan, expressed his excitement: “It’s pretty cool to see him and hear about different thoughts, what people think about his swing and all that kind of stuff. It was cool to see.”

Juan traveled with the Mets from Port St. Lucie for the exhibition game, while 19-year-old Elian participated as a Minor League callup. Elian shared, “I’ve been looking forward to this moment since I was a kid, and I hope I can do that again.”

Almost two years after Juan’s remarkable trade to the Padres, he signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets, positioning him in the same division and Spring Training area as Elian. The Nationals and Mets training complexes are only about 50 miles apart, making matchups in the Grapefruit League a common occurrence.

This spring, the Soto brothers are living together, which has intensified their baseball discussions. Earlier in the week, Juan made a point to visit the Nationals’ complex to see Elian practice in the outfield. Despite his busy schedule, he has managed to watch Elian during instructional games, but such opportunities to see his brother in action during competitive games are rare.

With Elian expressing enthusiasm about his call-up, he made sure to go to bed early the night before the game. “I was like, ‘I’ve got to go to sleep because I need the day to go by as quickly as possible,’” he joked.

During the game, Juan played for five innings before observing the remainder from the Mets’ dugout, where he signed autographs for fans. Elian, who had previously played in the Florida Complex League, made his Spring Training debut in the ninth inning as a left fielder but struck out against Tyler Zuber. After the game, the brothers embraced on the field, creating a memorable moment reflecting their shared journey in the sport.