Juan Soto, the Mets' biggest bat and their biggest star, has been out with a calf injury since late July, but wants to return to the team before the end of the 2026 season.

With New York's playoff chances dwindling after being sellers at the trade deadline, it would be understandable if Soto was shut down for the rest of the year as he recovers, but the Mets' lone All-Star this season vows to be back with this team.

“We are playing really good baseball right now,” Soto told MLB.com ahead of Friday's series opener with the Nationals. “Why not try to rejoin this team? It would be really fun. It would be great for me and the team. [I want to] finish the season strong and keep the momentum for next year, too.”

Entering play Friday, the Mets are 5-3 since the Aug. 3 trade deadline and are getting major contributions from the young kids and some recent call-ups.

But New York could use an infusion of Soto. Before this latest injury, Soto was having a Soto-like season. However, being available has been a challenge for Soto. The slugger has missed 38 games entering Friday between his first stint on the IL with a right calf strain and this current injury to his left leg.

Soto called his 2026 injuries "tough" and hopes to learn from this experience and stay healthy for his team moving forward.

“It’s tough for me to lose so many games. I’ve never been on this side of it,” Soto said. “I think it’s good for me -- for my career -- because it will teach me a lot of things. I have to adjust in my training [and] conditioning to keep moving forward in a positive way. I have to learn about my body a little bit more, learning how it works and go from there.”

In 84 games this season, Soto has slashed .283/.408/.539 with 21 home runs and 52 RBI en route to another All-Star Game selection.

And while the Mets have yet to give a timeline for Soto's return, the outfielder was doing pregame workouts at Citi Field, in good spirits.

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