Juan Soto’s 2025 MLB season has had its share of frustration and bad luck, which continued on Tuesday night.
It’s not often you see a superstar get called out at bat for something that’s not a strikeout, catching a fly ball, tag, or routine force play — but that’s exactly what happened to Soto.
In a bizarre twist during the Mets-White Sox game, the Dominican slugger was given out because teammate Brandon Nimmo passed him on bases — a rare baserunning violation that confused fans and one that got the broadcasters searching the rulebook.
In this article, The Sporting News breaks down what happened, the MLB rule behind the call, and why this play didn’t count as a hit.
Brandon Nimmo’s baserunning blunder and Juan Soto’s bad luck
The incident took place when Soto hit towards right-center as the White Sox’s Michael A. Taylor attempted a diving catch.
At the same time, the Mets’ Nimmo had already rounded second base and was on his way to third, but made a bizarre decision to race back to first.
Nimmo believed Taylor had taken the catch, so he ran back to first base, when in fact the White Sox center fielder had dropped it — the ball was only trapped.
This is where the issue ensued. Soto was still running, continuing his stride to second while Nimmo was headed in the opposite direction.
Nimmo made it back safe at first, but Soto was stuck between first and second base. He was soon tagged by first baseman Miguel Vargas, and because Nimmo passed Soto, the MLB rule 5.09(b)(9) came into play.
The rule states: “A runner is out when they pass a preceding runner before that runner is out.”
Juan Soto was called out after Brandon Nimmo passed him on the base paths on a hit that was trapped by Michael A. Taylor pic.twitter.com/SUgy5DuEbU
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 27, 2025
Although the Mets went on to make up for it later with a 4–6 win at Citi Field, thanks to Pete Alonso’s two-run shot and a Jared Young homer early in the game.
Following the incident, fans wondered if Soto would be credited with a hit — he wasn’t. The Mets outfielder wasn’t given a hit due to a baserunning violation, and it was instead recorded as a line-out at first base.
Soto’s 2025 campaign has not gotten off to a great start, slashing .228/.355/.401 with 8 home runs and 25 RBIs through 197 at-bats.
He is ranked low at 129th and 43rd for batting average (AVG), on-base percentage (OBP), respectively, and will need some strong performances — and some luck — to bounce back.