Juan Soto on not making the All-Star Game: “I have to be better”

New York.- One of the most notable surprises of the 2025 Major League season is the absence of Dominican outfielder Juan Soto in the All-Star Game, which marks his first exclusion since he debuted in the event in 2019. The only exception was in 2020, when the mid-season classic was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being the highest-paid player in Major League history and having a productive year, his performance in the first two months of the campaign was not enough to secure him a place among those selected by fans, players, and managers. Currently, Soto is batting .263 with an OPS of .904, has hit 21 home runs and driven in 51 runs, in addition to leading Major League Baseball in walks received with 72. However, these figures did not convince voters to include him in the National League roster for the “Summer Classic”.

Read more: Collective outrage over Juan Soto's exclusion from the 2025 All-Star Game

Consulted by the New York Post, the star outfielder of the New York Mets was self-critical and maturely accepted the decision: "Sometimes you're going to get in (the All-Star team) and sometimes you won't," he stated. "Apparently I didn't. I just have to be better." Soto acknowledged that his poor performance in the early stages of the season had a decisive weight in the final decision, although he does not give greater emotional importance to the fact of being left out. “Everyone wants to be an All-Star and experience being there, but it didn't happen this year,” he said. “I am proud to have been able to go for four consecutive years. If I didn't make it this year, it's not a big deal. I'll come back stronger next year.” With these statements, Soto demonstrates a work-focused and team-oriented attitude, prioritizing collective performance over individual recognition.