Sun May 18 23:40:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

ESPN initially planned to have Juan Soto, in his return to Yankee Stadium, wear a microphone during Sunday Night Baseball to discuss Aaron Judge’s impressive season. This sparked backlash from Mets fans who felt the focus should be on Soto’s new team. The network then abruptly switched plans and decided to mic up Mets player Brandon Nimmo instead. The reason for the change is not explicitly stated, but theories range from Soto’s potential reluctance to discuss his former teammate to the backlash from Mets fans.

**News Article:**

**ESPN Pulls Plug on Soto Interview, Switches to Nimmo Amid Fan Backlash**

**New York, NY** – What was supposed to be a feel-good moment for a former Yankee turned into a fiasco as ESPN’s plans for an in-game interview with Juan Soto during Sunday Night Baseball backfired, leading to a last-minute switch to Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo.

Soto’s return to Yankee Stadium was expected to be one of the main storylines, and ESPN announced that Soto would be mic’d up to discuss the historic start of his former teammate Aaron Judge.

Mets fans took to social media, expressing their frustration, arguing that the interview should focus on Soto’s transition to the Mets and the team’s performance.

“Wait. You’re going to mic up Juan Soto…to ask him about…Aaron Judge. How about asking him about Pete, Lindor, or life on his new team? This is wildly frustrating,” wrote one fan on X.

Just hours before the broadcast, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported that the network was changing course, opting to interview Nimmo instead. ESPN has not officially commented on the reason for the switch, fueling speculation that fan outrage and/or Soto’s own reluctance to discuss Judge contributed to the decision. The incident raises questions about how networks choose their interview subjects.

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