In a season where seemingly nothing has gone right for the New York Mets and the phrase “historic collapse” has once again become all too familiar, one bright spot has emerged: Juan Soto’s remarkable season. A generational talent who needs no introduction, it is a shame that the team he is representing in the summer classic currently sits in fifth place with a 38-53 record.

Alas, baseball is a team sport, but the All-Star Game is based strictly on individual merit, and to say Juan Soto hasn’t done his part to create wins for the team is an understatement far from the truth. While every team needs at least one representative at the All-Star Game, some teams feel like they had no one better to represent; however, Juan Soto is the complete opposite and has consistently proven he is one of the league’s top performers.

Juan Soto has also joined an impressive list as the youngest player to be named an All-Star with four franchises before turning 31. He accomplished this feat with the Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, and now the Mets. He is also the first Mets outfielder to represent the team in the All-Star Game since Yoenis Cespedes did so in 2016.

Yes, Soto hasn’t been healthy this year, but he is still elite. Regardless of the missed time, he is leading all of baseball in on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, OPS+, and weighted runs created. This year, with 72 games played, Juan Soto has 77 hits, 41 runs, 19 home runs, 46 RBIs, 50 BB, and a slash line of .301/.414/.570/.984 for an OPS+ of 173. But in a year of missed opportunities and bad baseball, Soto has a real chance to be the franchise’s first MVP winner.

Baseball will always have its ups and downs and has a knack for letting down even the most devoted fans. Still, it’s good to savor the little moments and celebrate the small victories, even when they don’t add up to the bigger picture. Cheering for a 5th-place team potentially approaching 100 losses isn’t exactly thrilling, but following a generational talent in the pursuit of an MVP is a great way to stay engaged.