PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — MLB superstar Juan Soto surprised teammate Brett Baty with a new black Chevrolet Tahoe on Thursday — a thank-you gift for Baty allowing Soto to wear No. 22 with the New York Mets.
“It’s amazing. For him to think to do something like that, I couldn’t be more grateful,” Baty said. “I’m just really excited he’s on our team and I get to learn from one of the best hitters in the game.”
“It’s not about the car,” said Soto. “It’s just something that’s going to make him happy.”
Baty had agreed to give up No. 22 upon Soto’s signing with the Mets, and he hadn’t asked for anything in return, which Soto appreciated. The outfielder, whose $765 million contract is the largest in sports history, had told Baty he’d take care of him eventually.
Baty’s been driving the same Toyota 4-Runner since high school, and his need for a new car had become a bit of an inside joke in the clubhouse. That helped Soto do some background research on what Baty was looking for; he’d already divulged to teammates and to traveling secretary Edgar Suero that he’d want a Tahoe.
“We tried to make sure that was the car he likes, that it was the car of his dreams,” Soto said. “I made sure he got it.”
Baty’s suspicions were raised when Suero asked him for his car insurance information earlier this week.
“I figured something was coming,” Baty said, “but I didn’t expect that.”
Soto joked the car cost “more than $22,000.”
Soto, 26, has worn No. 22 since his major-league career began with the Washington Nationals in 2018. Baty, 25, had worn it with the Mets since debuting in 2022. He switched to No. 7.
(Photo of Juan Soto: Rich Storry / Getty Images)
