On 14 Jul 2026, Cody Bellinger declared Juan Soto the best hitter in Major League Baseball during Monday’s All-Star media day in New York.
What Bellinger said
Bellinger, the Yankees first baseman, made the bold claim when asked directly about the league’s top bat. “Best bat in the game,” he told reporters via SNY. “Consistent at-bat every single game. He’s so good, man.”
The comment landed hard with Yankees fans, many of whom still see Aaron Judge as the game’s premier slugger. Judge has missed nearly two months with a rib stress fracture and hasn’t played since May 31. In 59 games, he’s slashing .248/.375/.533 with 17 homers and 38 RBI.
Why it matters for Juan Soto
At 27, Soto is on a Cooperstown trajectory. He owns five All-Star nods and six Silver Slugger Awards in nine seasons. This year, he’s hitting .290 with 21 homers and 51 RBI in 78 games. His .967 OPS ranks second in the National League and fourth in MLB behind Yordan Alvarez, James Wood, and Ben Rice.
Soto spent just one season with the Yankees before bolting to the Mets in the 2024 offseason on a record 15-year, $765 million contract. His elite production has continued despite New York’s struggles, keeping him in MVP conversations.
The fallout on social media
Fans weren’t shy about their reaction. “Am I hearing this right … am I reading this right … Cody Bellinger says Juan Soto is best hitter in MLB over his TEAMMATE Aaron Judge??” one poster wrote on X. Another declared, “BELLINGER HATES JUDGE.”
Bellinger later clarified he was answering a question about Soto, not dissing Judge. Still, the timing—with Judge sidelined—added fuel to the debate over who truly owns the game’s best bat.
What comes next
Soto will look to keep his hot streak going when the Mets host the Braves on 16 Jul 2026. A strong second half could cement his Hall of Fame case even further. For now, the league’s best hitter wears a Mets uniform—and Bellinger just said so.