Juan Soto avoids serious injury after hand hit in Mets victory

Soto forced off in late injury scare

New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto had to leave Saturday's 7-1 victory over the Washington Nationals after a scary moment in the final inning. Soto was hit directly on his right hand by a pitch, causing immediate concern for the player and his coaching staff.

The incident happened in the ninth inning when Washington pitcher Richard Lovelady threw a 91 mph sinker. The fast pitch struck Soto's hand, and he spun around immediately in pain. He began shaking his injured right hand as he walked toward first base to try and shake off the impact. After a brief meeting on the field with an athletic trainer, Soto turned back and returned to the dugout instead of staying on base.

Positive news from the X-rays

Mets fans can breathe a sigh of relief as manager Andy Green confirmed that the initial X-rays on Soto's hand came back negative. This means the star outfielder has avoided any bone fracture, which is a major positive for the team as they look ahead.

However, Green admitted he is still unsure if Soto will be ready to feature in Sunday's season finale. "He got squared up on his hand pretty good," Green said after the match. The coaching staff will likely assess his condition before making a final decision on whether to rest him.

Soto has had a strong second season with the Mets, posting a .278 batting average with 27 home runs and 68 RBIs. His season has already been disrupted by physical setbacks, having spent two separate spells on the injured list earlier this year due to calf strains.