Soto homered in his first plate appearance this spring and hasn’t removed his foot from the accelerator. It’s been the kind of dress rehearsal the Mets might have expected following his arrival in December on a record $765 million contract for 15 years.

The Yankees wanted their Batman and Robin together for years to come, and owner Hal Steinbrenner proved it by offering Soto more than twice the money it took to keep Aaron Judge two winters ago. But Soto picked the Mets’ 15-year, $765-million offer over the Yankees’ $760 million for 16, so now they’ll be rivals.

The Mets are the more interesting team in town this season. They just are, until further notice. Like the season.