WFAN’s Brandon Tierney questions Juan Soto’s age: ‘I think there’s a good chance he’s not 26’

WFAN midday host Brandon Tierney would like to see a copy of Juan Soto’s long-form birth certificate.

The New York Mets slugger has been the talk of the town all season long thanks to the unbearable expectations of the 15-year, $765 million contract he signed in the offseason, spurning the New York Yankees in the process.

The high-priced Mets are in the midst of a miserable stretch, but Soto has put up the numbers to justify his price tag. However, thanks to a rough start to the season and a series of notable miscues, the four-time All-Star has found himself in the New York sports media’s crosshairs all year long. He’s been called out over his attitude, tone-deafness, lack of leadership, poor play, statements of fact, and perceived contract clauses.

Now, it’s a question of whether or not the Dominican-born superstar is telling the truth about his age.

Tierney and co-host Sal Licata were discussing Soto on Friday’s show, specifically around whether or not the Yankees are missing having him as they deal with struggles of their own. Tierney, a Yankee fan, said that while the Pinstripes could use the help, he’s okay with the franchise not committing to the massive contract that the Mets signed Soto for. And, it seems, a part of that is because he’s not sure he believes Soto, who was born on October 25, 1998, is 26.

“Fifteen years of this? Does he look 26? Does he?” asked Tierney. “I shouldn’t even start this. This is gonna get me in trouble. But does he look 26? When you’re 26, you still have a youthful glow. Does he look 26?”

“Yeah, but he’s been in baseball for like seven-plus years,” responded Licata. “Remember when he came in, he looked a little bit more like a babyface. Now he’s grown into his own.”

“Okay. I can’t prove it,” added Tierney. “While I don’t know for sure… I think there’s a good chance he’s not 26, I’ll say it.”

“Does he look 26?. When you’re 26, you have a youthful glow… I think there’s a good chance he’s not 26, I’ll say it.” – WFAN’s Brandon Tierney ponders if Juan Soto is telling the truth about his age. pic.twitter.com/g3VGfZbaRC

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 15, 2025

Soto signed with the Washington Nationals as an international free agent in 2015 when he was still 16 and made his MLB debut in 2018 at the age of 19 years and 207 days.

Later in the program, Tierney faced pushback from callers regarding his conspiracy theory, with one pointing out that Major League Baseball has an Age and Identity Investigation department that looks into these kinds of claims, as there have been documented cases in the past of foreign-born players changing their ages. However, Tierney, while trying to distance himself from certainty, doubled down on his presumption.

“I don’t even want to give you a number because it’s just giving it more and more credence. By the way, I don’t think he’s in his 30s, I’m not saying that. Maybe, uh, close.” – Tierney responding to a caller who questioned his Juan Soto age theory pic.twitter.com/kA1OtbpvUC

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 15, 2025

“I don’t even want to give you a number because it’s just giving it more and more credence,” he said. “By the way, I don’t think he’s in his 30s, I’m not saying that. Maybe, uh, close.”