At first glance, Juan Soto stealing bases for the New York Mets feels about as likely as Po becoming a kung fu master. In Kung Fu Panda, the roly-poly underdog wasn’t exactly built for stealth and fighting techniques, but with the right teacher, he found a way to succeed on his terms. Soto’s no different; he ranks in the bottom 26% of MLB in sprint speed, yet he’s already set a career high with 13 stolen bases this season and has been caught only once.
The secret scroll behind this transformation? Antoan Richardson. The Mets’ first base coach has turned base stealing into a team-wide art form, and Soto might be his most surprising student.