Juan Soto is about to spend the next 15 seasons trying to live up to his paycheck

If ever there was a baseball player who despite his generational talent and seemingly unlimited future has so much to prove this year, it’s Juan Soto.

There’s a good reason the new Mets right fielder, just 26, scored the most lucrative contract in MLB history this winter from deep-pocketed owner Steve Cohen. Soto really is that good, and should get even better as he enters his baseball prime.

But there’s a lot riding on that $765 million he’ll earn over the next 15 years. Soto is under pressure to not only have another outstanding year — his 41 HR, 109 RBI,  129 walks and .419 on-base percentage in 2024, his lone season with the Yankees, was arguably the best of his short career — Mets fans are counting on him to lead the team to a World Series championship in a very tough NL East. Especially after the team came so close last year before losing the NLCS to the eventual champion Dodgers.

While he’ll be the focus of a good offensive lineup and likely be slotted into the No. 2 spot sandwiched between Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, he won’t have the luxury of American League MVP Aaron Judge hitting behind him all year. Meaning there’s no guarantee Soto’s gaudy 2024 numbers will be matched or even approached.

Failure to earn a ring will land squarely on Soto’s shoulders, fair or not.

But at least Soto will have another 14 chances to live up to his $51 million salary.