Juan Soto stepped into the batter's box against Richard Lovelady , but things did not go well for the Mets outfielder. Soto was hit hard on his injured right hand by a fiery pitch, forcing him to leave the game.
On Saturday, the New York Mets defeated the Washington Nationals 7-1 to even the series. However, the win was overshadowed by Lovelady's 91.7 mph pitch that struck Soto so hard on his injured right hand that it knocked the wind out of him. Soto immediately walked toward first base while shaking his right hand in pain, before returning to the dugout.
Fans wasted no time in reacting to the incident. Many said that it was the ultimate revenge executed by the team's "recurring villain."
"Dicky Lovelady is like a recurring villain for the Mets"
"Lovelady gets his revenge," another fan said.
Soto's X-Rays came back negative for any fractures. However, his manager, Andy Green, said he didn't know whether Soto would play in Sunday's season finale.
After signing with the Mets as a free agent in 2025, Lovelady made only eight appearances that year. He returned and pitched in six games for the Mets in April 2026, before being traded to the Nationals.
Juan Soto earned an All-Star honor during the 2026 season, thanks to a massive surge in fan voting. When asked about his message to young kids who dream of becoming an All-Star one day, the Mets star gave a message about resilience:
"Just keep grinding, keep playing hard, never give up, you know. Sometimes life is tough. Sometimes it gets a little frustrating that sometimes you think you deserve it, and sometimes it's not going to happen, but if you be resilient, I think you can make it one day."
This was Soto's fifth All-Star selection overall, and he became the youngest player in MLB history to earn an All-Star nod with four different franchises.
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