New York Mets owner Cohen personally updates: Soto has begun running training

Juan Soto has taken a significant step in his recovery from a right calf strain. New York Mets owner Steve Cohen revealed on the X platform that Soto has started running drills. The news came as the Mets had just suffered a 1-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking their seventh consecutive defeat.

Since straining his calf muscle in San Francisco on April 3 (US time), Soto quickly resumed baseball activities, including hitting practice in indoor batting cages. However, it was only on Wednesday that he began running training. This is a crucial step for Soto, as he must regain full-speed running capability before being activated to play.

The duration of Soto's running training remains uncertain. When asked earlier this week whether Soto would require minor league rehab games, manager Carlos Mendoza mentioned they would be "flexible" with his recovery plan. This could involve bringing minor league pitchers to Citi Field to simulate live batting practice for him.

The Mets organization estimates Soto will need two to three weeks to return, suggesting he could potentially come back sometime next week, or even by this weekend if progress is smooth.

The team urgently needs his contribution. During Soto's absence, the Mets have scored 0 or 1 runs in five of their last six games. Before the injury, Soto was one of the team's most potent offensive hitters, posting a slash line of .355/.412/.516 over eight games with one home run and two doubles.