How Juan Soto became one of baseball’s most efficient base-stealers

Juan Soto added to his career-best stolen base total in Friday night’s loss to the Giants when he easily swiped second base with ex-teammate Jose Buttó on the mound.

Soto had such a good jump, there wasn’t even a play at second, with Soto going in standing up.

Soto ended up being stranded at second, as the Mets’ issues with runners in scoring position have continued, but it was another example of this new aspect of the outfielder’s game — and a somewhat unexpected one in his eighth major league season.

Soto entered Sunday having swiped 16 bases in 17 attempts after never stealing more than a dozen in a year.