The New York Mets didn’t just steal bases in 2025 - they built a system around it. A system so efficient, so precise, it forced opposing teams to rethink how they approached the running game. And at the heart of it all was Antoan Richardson, the architect behind the Mets’ transformation into the most dangerous base-stealing team in baseball.
Richardson wasn’t just waving runners around third or shouting encouragement from the first base line. He was the engine behind a stolen base machine that went 147-for-165 - a jaw-dropping 89.1% success rate.
That wasn’t a hot streak. That was a blueprint.
And now, that blueprint is in Atlanta.
Here’s the twist: Juan Soto - long known for his elite plate discipline and on-base prowess - became the unexpected face of this running revolution. In 2025, Soto swiped a career-high 38 bags.
That’s not a typo. This is a guy who had never topped 12 steals in a season.
Suddenly, he looked like a threat every time he reached first. And by all accounts, Richardson was the one who unlocked that next level.
The secret? It wasn’t just about raw speed.
It was about refining the details - reading pitchers, timing jumps, knowing when to go and when to stay. Richardson instilled a mindset as much as a skill set.
He turned base stealing into a science, and Soto became its most high-profile success story.
But now, Richardson’s gone - not because the Mets didn’t want him, but because of a difference in how they valued him. As Richardson put it, there were “different thoughts on my value.”
And that difference sent him south to Atlanta. Not only did the Mets lose a coach, they handed a division rival the keys to their own system.
Which brings us to the number that should raise some eyebrows in Queens: Steamer projects Soto for just 20 steals in 2026. That’s analytics-speak for, “Don’t expect a repeat.”
Now, that doesn’t mean Soto suddenly forgot how to run. But elite base stealing isn’t just about athleticism - it’s about repetition, reinforcement, and a culture that backs aggressive decisions.
It’s the hours of film study, the scouting reports on pitcher tendencies, the daily reminders that smart risks are part of the game plan. That kind of environment doesn’t build itself.
It’s cultivated. And Richardson was the one doing the cultivating.
The Mets still have speed. They still have guys who can run.
But maintaining that league-best efficiency - that’s not just about having fast players. It’s about having a program, a mindset, and someone to keep it humming every day.
Without Richardson, that system has to be rebuilt or reimagined.
Meanwhile, the Braves didn’t just add a coach. They added insight into how the Mets operated at their sharpest. That’s a tough pill to swallow in a division where every edge matters.
So as 2026 approaches, the Mets’ base-running identity is at a crossroads. The infrastructure that made it all possible has moved on. And while the players are still there, the system that elevated them may not be.
One thing’s for sure: If the Mets want to keep running wild, they’ll need to find a new way to do it - and fast. Because the guy who helped them master the art of the steal? He’s now wearing Braves colors.