New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichetteconnects on a single against the St. Louis Cardinals during a March 30, 2025 game.
New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette follows a long line of new signings who struggled early and heard boos from the home crowd. Newsday writer Laura Albanese argues that the fanbase will benefit from more patience. She draws a particular parallel from recent history.
“The swing went right through strike three, and the boos followed, a disgusted acknowledgment of a limp at-bat against a weaker opponent. The sentiment among fans at Citi Field was clear: The Mets paid that much for this?
“The date was May 28, 2025, and Juan Soto, who had gone 0-for-6 in his previous two games against a ghastly White Sox team, had struck out against a reliever who came into that day with a 5.16 ERA. It was part of what turned out to be a 0-for-4 day.”
In 2024, Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract, the largest in MLB history. After his first ten games, Soto batted .285 with one home run and four runs batted in. Critics on social media and talk shows quickly flooded the air with complaints, calling the contract a waste.
Yet, Soto set career highs with 43 home runs and 38 stolen bases and led the league in on-base percentage for the third time. The Mets’ third baseman and their starting left fielder have vastly different skill sets. However, if Soto produced after a slow start, Bichette can, too.
Soto finished third in National League MVP voting and almost finished with a 40-40 season, despite his rough start. That, in itself, should be viewed positively.
Bo Bichette says that he’s worked on getting back to the basics the past couple days
“I did a better job of that” pic.twitter.com/ARjLOH7XwB
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 31, 2026
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Bichette Dealing With Big Contract and Expectations
The veteran signed a three-year deal with the Mets, structured as a series of player or club options after each year, effectively making it three consecutive one-year contracts where either side can opt out annually if unsatisfied.
Similarly, Soto’s 15-year contract contains a structured opt-out clause that allows him to become a free agent after the 2029 season. With this arrangement, Bichette has another opportunity for a significant contract before age 30. This setup gives him a chance to prove himself on a major stage.
GettyMets third baseman Bo Bichette.
Mendoza Attempts to Ease Early Worries
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza addressed the start and brought his sense of calm to the situation.
“The biggest one? “Having conversations with and understanding that you’re not the first one and you’re not going to be the last one,’” Mendoza said. “It happens to the best players in the game, not only here with the Mets in New York or in big market teams. Everything is new for them: the contract, the new team, and the new fan base. There’s an adjustment period . . . He’s a really good player, and it’s three games here.”
The “here” refers to St. Louis. The Mets won on Monday night, and you could see Bichette slowly emerging from the negative.
Francisco Lindor leads off the game with a triple! pic.twitter.com/G8grIBacLx
— Mets’d Up Podcast (@MetsdUp) March 30, 2026
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A Break in the Struggle
Normally, few would cheer or celebrate a 1-for-5 evening. However, when you lead the league in strikeouts as a contact hitter, take the positives. Bichette’s single plated two runs, and you could see the joy as he reached base.
To this point, Bichette has seen 76 pitches, putting 12 into play. Of those, according to Baseball Savant, his bat speed resides in a normal range for him. Right now, it’s a matter of living up to the axiom of “hitting it where they aren’t.”
One series doesn’t define Bichette. The season is a marathon, not a sprint. Now, he just needs to keep moving forward.
Bo Bichette with an RBI single. Not the smoothest approach but it still counts. pic.twitter.com/ZXwe49DxYk
— The Mets Newsletter (@metsnewsletter) March 31, 2026
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Terrance Biggs Terrance started at heavy.com in January 2026
He is a veteran sportswriter with 12 years of experience, covering NFL, College, and MLB. Terrance has held positions at Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Sports Network. A graduate of Fort Hays State University with a bachelor’s in Communication, he is also a voting member of the Football Writers Association of America, United States Basketball Writers Association and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. More about Terrance Biggs
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