Although spring training has been underway for less than a month, Juan Soto has already given the New York Mets the illusion of a "veteran." The superstar, who joined on a record 15-year, $765 million contract, has settled in quickly since reporting on Feb. 16, conquering the locker room with his humorous personality and professional attitude.

"Frankly, I didn't expect to adapt so quickly," said head coach Carlos Mendoza, "and he's been mingling with his Latino teammates from the day the positional players assembled. His humility in sharing his skills without reservation during batting training is admirable. David Stearns, the president of baseball operations, was impressed by Soto's two-sided personality: "He's a focused artist on the field, but he's funny in the locker room, and it's a fascinating switch. "

David Peterson, a left-hand projector, revealed: "His affinity breaks down barriers, and three weeks feels like three years. It's incredible. Mendoza added: "The dressing room atmosphere is a big deal, but Soto's own humility and sincerity are key. After experiencing the turmoil of sky-high contracts, he still maintains his true colors, which is commendable. "

Nemo's knee injury was repeated and the opening game was in doubt
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo has been sidelined with right knee pain since his spring training debut on Feb. 28. An MRI showed no structural damage, but only 85 percent of his fitness was recovered when he tried to run at full strength on Friday, and he was immediately treated with a knee gel injection and suspended from baseball for 48-72 hours.

Mendoza remains cautiously optimistic about his comeback in the opening game: "There is still plenty of time, the key is to accumulate the number of follow-up plays. "It's worth noting that Nemo suffered from plantar fasciitis on his left foot in the playoffs last year, and now his right knee has become a new concern. The medical team will be closely monitoring the progress of his recovery and may activate emergency plans if he is still unable to train at full capacity near the opening week.

"There is no need to overreact at this stage," Mendoza stressed, "and we believe that the gel injection will help him break through the bottleneck." The 31-year-old outfielder posted a career-best attacking index of 0.274/0.363/0.466 last season and his fitness will have a direct impact on the Mets' depth of play. With Soto bringing firepower, a healthy Nemo will be a key cog in tandem.