Juan Soto joins the 30-30 club after stealing third base

United States.- Juan Soto made history this Tuesday by becoming the fifth player in the history of the New York Mets to reach the prestigious 30-30 club, after stealing third base in the eighth inning of the game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

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With this feat, Soto joins legendary names like Darryl Strawberry, Howard Johnson (three times), David Wright and the Puerto Rican Francisco Lindor as the only players in the franchise to record at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season.

“It has definitely been the result of a lot of work since the beginning of the season,” Soto expressed. “Antoan [Richardson] has done an incredible job. He has been helping me since day one. I give him all the credit. He is the one who put me in this position and in this place to achieve what I have achieved.”

An achievement built step by step

Soto’s path to the 30-30 was built on months of dedication and intensive training in his base running, with the help of first base coach Antoan Richardson. Thanks to his guidance, the outfielder significantly increased his aggressiveness and efficiency when stealing bases.

Juan Soto is the first player to reach 30 HR and 30 SB this season 😤 pic.twitter.com/BJRDa1bqdn

— MLB (@MLB) September 10, 2025

Power has never been an issue for Soto, who hit his 30th home run on August 15. However, since the All-Star break, the Dominican has surprised even more with his speed: 19 stolen bases versus 15 home runs in that period. The historic 30th base came in the eighth inning of the game that the Mets ended up losing 9-3. Despite the disadvantage on the scoreboard, Soto did not hesitate to take the risk: it was his third stolen base of the game and he has only been caught three times all season.

“Obviously, he’s a player you trust when it comes to making decisions,” said Venezuelan manager Carlos Mendoza. “Reaching 30 is a great achievement for him, but if you ask him, it’s not about his personal statistics. He’s focused on winning.”

Looking higher: the 40-30 club

Soto’s 2025 numbers are dazzling: 38 home runs and 30 stolen bases. This performance leaves him only two steals away from entering an even more exclusive group: the 40-30 club, a milestone achieved in just 15 seasons throughout the history of the MLB by legends like Hank Aaron, Alex Rodriguez, and Shohei Ohtani.

“For me it means a lot,” Soto commented. “It’s part of your career path. But in the end, you have to think about the team. If I achieve that, what we are trying to do here is to help the club as much as possible.”

With this feat, Juan Soto reaffirms his status as one of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball and a player capable of making history with the Mets. Now, all eyes will be on his next games, where he will seek to take the next step towards the historic 40-30.