Juan Soto gives memory of a lifetime for Texas boy

HOUSTON – With his blue socks up near his knees, Ian Rivera arrived at Daikin Park for Opening Day dressed in a white, pinstripe Mets uniform. With Soto and No. 22 on the back of his jersey, it didn’t take much imagination to realize that Juan Soto is Rivera’s favorite player.

Rivera, a 10-year-old from Mission, Texas, joined his parents, Luz and Toribio, on a six-hour drive up from the Rio Grande Valley to see Juan Soto and his beloved Mets. 

There are not many Mets fans in the RGV, Rivera conceded. He’s a diehard Mets fan, though. The fourth grader and his family had field passes. The Riveras settled in near the visiting dugout during batting practice on Thursday afternoon. 

Juan Soto gave a memory of a lifetime for Ian Rivera, a 10-year-old from Mission, Texas. #LGM pic.twitter.com/d0XOtb9bWc

— Our Esquina (@OurEsquina) March 28, 2025

Ian Rivera held a sign written on blue carbon paper. In Spanish, it read, “Es mi cumpleaños (10). Una foto x favor.” (It’s my birthday (10). A picture please.)

Astros victory 

The uniform and the sign caught the attention of several Mets players during batting practice.

Astros ace Framber Valdez threw seven scoreless innings in a dominant performance for the 3-1 victory before a sellout crowd of 42,305. Closer Josh Hader struck out Juan Soto with the potential tying run at first to seal the victory in the ninth. 

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“He got me on that one,” Soto told the Mets beat writers afterward. “It was a pretty good pitch, a slider down and away. I wasn’t expecting it. It just happens.”

It was not the result Soto wanted in his first game since signing his record $765 million contract. Nonetheless, Soto and the Mets gave a little boy the treat of a lifetime.

Rivera is too young to know what the word “Amazin’” means in Mets history. Yet, it was the word he chose to describe the experience. If he continues to follow the team, he’ll surely learn about the 1969 Amazin’ Mets, who won the franchise’s first World Series title.

‘Amazing’ treat from Juan Soto

“Amazing,” Rivera said. “I’ve been a fan for a long time.”

Rivera will learn about the 1986 World Series champions. He will hear about the heartbreak in the 2000 Subway Series against the Yankees. Rivera may not know about the role Keith Hernandez played for the 1986 champions, yet he knew enough to seek Hernandez’s autograph on Opening Day 2025.

Hernandez signed a baseball for Rivera and took a picture with him. Superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor also walked over to take a picture and sign for Rivera.

Then toward the end of batting practice, Soto smiled as he walked over to Rivera. After the All-Star slugger signed Rivera’s baseball, Rivera asked if he could sign his jersey.

“Me firmas mi camisa?” he pleaded in Spanish. (Will you sign my jersey?)

Soto obliged with a smile as Rivera’s mom squealed with joy. Then the slugger put his arm around Rivera for one last picture with the boy.