And with a chance to tie the game in the top of the ninth, Soto struck out with two runners on to spoil his Mets debut. The Mets paid him $765 million over 15 years to deliver in those situations, and the guy who traded Yankees pinstripes for Mets pinstripes will have another 161 opportunities.

Mets superstar Juan Soto spoke with reporters following his long-awaited team debut on Opening Day against the Astros.

The Mets couldn’t replicate their past success on Opening Day, and it resulted in a sour start to the Juan Soto era in Queens.

The anticipation surrounding Juan Soto's debut with the New York Mets reached a fever pitch during the season opener against the Houston Astros. As Soto stepped up to the plate, the crowd's response echoed the expectations of a $765 million man ready to prove his worth.

Soto, 26, who signed a record-breaking 15-year, $756 million contract in December, and Holmes, 32, played for the New York Yankees in 2024. The Mets signed them in an attempt to bolster their roster after falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series last year.

The $765 million man got on base three times Thursday, but he also made the final out of the Mets' season-opening loss.

Juan Soto's debut game with the New York Mets concluded in unceremonious fashion as Soto struck out to end the game and fall to the Houston Astros. The Astros held a 3-0 lead for much of the game ...

Juan Soto hopes to follow the likes of Gary Carter, Robin Ventura, Mike Piazza and other players who made an immediate impact.

"He just got me in that situation," Soto said. Hader loaded the bases with nobody out, then fanned third-string catcher Hayden Senger in his first major league at-bat. Francisco Lindor’s sacrifice fly made it 3-1, and there were runners on first and third when Hader struck out Soto for his 200th career save.