The New York Mets are facing a potential crisis as superstar outfielder Juan Soto was forced to exit Wednesday night's game against the Detroit Tigers after fouling a ball off his right ankle—a development that could spell disaster for a team already plagued by injuries.

Soto initially stayed in the game after the incident in the third inning, but the decision to pull him in the seventh inning, with the go-ahead run on third base, speaks volumes about the severity of the situation. Rather than letting Soto bat in a critical moment, the Mets turned to pinch hitter MJ Melendez—a move that underscores just how much pain the star was in.

The injury occurred when Soto's 2-0 pitch from Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez caught him in the unprotected gap on his shin guard. The outfielder was seen grimacing, limping, and even taking a knee in front of the dugout before attempting to continue. After a lengthy visit from manager Carlos Mendoza and a trainer, Soto walked gingerly back to the plate, only to strike out swinging in visible frustration.

This is the latest in a string of health setbacks for Soto, who already missed three weeks earlier this season with a left calf strain suffered while running the bases in San Francisco. He's also dealt with forearm tightness that briefly limited him to designated hitter duties.

The Mets' injury list is already overflowing. Shortstop Francisco Lindor, center fielder Luis Robert Jr., and infielder Jorge Polanco have all been sidelined since last month. Catcher Francisco Alvarez recently rejoined them on the IL as well. With Soto potentially headed back to the shelf, the team's depth—and their season—hangs in the balance.