In his sixth game of his first homestand with his new team in 2024, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani came to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning against the rival San Francisco Giants. With the Dodgers clinging to a one-run lead, Ohtani—a global superstar fresh off signing a historic $700 million contract as the missing piece for a team with its sights set on a World Series title—took the fifth pitch he saw from Giants reliever Taylor Rogers and deposited it into the right-center field bleachers. It was his first home run as a Dodger, and it proved to be the difference in a 5–4 victory.
For a player of Ohtani’s unparalleled stature, there wasn’t too much riding on that early April moment. Still, a strong first impression is always preferred over the contrary, and Ohtani passed this early test with flying colors.
Every year, high-profile players start anew with a different team in a different city. Usually acquired for a hefty price, the pressure to win over a new group of fans presents a unique challenge for these established stars. This winter, an impressive crop of free agents signed nine-figure deals—including the largest contract in sports history—while other notable All-Stars were traded away. The season is still young, but now feels like a good time to check in on how the offseason’s splashiest moves are faring in the early goings with some mid-April report cards.
Three weeks’ worth of games is hardly enough to be predictive for a full season. For star players who have gotten off to fast starts, the early days have likely flown by. And for those who have struggled, each passing 0-for-4 makes the new hometown fans get antsier for a breakthrough. Let’s hand out some grades.
Juan Soto, RF, New York Mets
2025 stats: .231/.367/.431, 3 HR, 7 RBIs, 14 R
Grade: B
By his standards, Soto’s off to a slow start. The good news is that when a 128 wRC+ qualifies as underwhelming, you’re in a pretty elite class of hitter. Soto is still walking more often than he strikes out and still hitting the ball hard. It’s a near certainty that his .240 BABIP will normalize soon enough. He gets a B now, but Mets fans shouldn’t be stressing about their right fielder picking up the pace.
