Arrogance, braids, or a magic NY Mets HR apple? No, it's Juan Soto being himself

Was this really the same year when naysayers were questioning whether or not Juan Soto actually wanted to be a member of the New York Mets? Only months ago, every lack of smile, moment of a slump shoulder, or absence of a shuffle had more than just New York Yankees fans suggesting that maybe something was off.

Flash forward to the final weeks of the season and Juan Soto has caught fire. He has changed his look with flowing braids and showing an arrogance at the plate that Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen wishes we all had.

Soto looks like he’s having the time of his life with the Mets. As far as best-case scenarios go, a red hot Soto at the end of 2025 rather than one who ran out of gas early is exactly what we should have all been rooting for this year.

Juan Soto looked in the mirror and remembered he's Juan Soto

Was there a moment when the season turned for the best, and for good, for Soto? The grand slam against the Detroit Tigers to begin the month was significant. However, he was already playing well for much of August even when the team scuffled.

His September numbers going into Saturday include a .343/.423/.731 slash line. He has 7 home runs and 19 RBI through 17 games. His previous monthly highs this year include 11 home runs (June) and 22 RBI (August). Add in his 8 stolen bases (he had 9 after June) and we find ourselves with a player who seems to be firing on all cylinders at exactly the right time.

On Friday, the rubbing of a magic apple confirmed dark forces were at work with Soto who seems unstoppable at the moment.

His 7 home runs in September is tied for the MLB lead and his 19 RBI trails only Mookie Betts. What felt like the missing element of his game for a good chunk of the year has arrived. Soto needs to score runs and knock them in. His 117 runs scored ranks third in Major League Baseball. A credit to the work behind him in the order, Pete Alonso deserving the largest hat tip, it has gotten to the point of ridiculousness to ever think there were questions about his abilities.

Soto has always been a bigger personality on the field than in front of a microphone. Comments he made this year were often taken out of context. Never did it seem to cause any locker room chaos or full fall from within.

Becoming a little looser and having fun seems to have kept Soto from going into any prolonged slump. He only had two straight games without a hit twice in August and none in September. He had four instances like this in July. He was 5 for 49 to begin the second half.

It’s not the arrogance, the hair, or a Mets apple. It’s Juan Soto being Juan Soto.