HOUSTON — New Yankees superstar Juan Soto looked relaxed and happy before his debut in what is usually a house of horrors for his new team. If Soto knew anything about the recent history of pinstripes here, he didn’t divulge it.
Soto was also excited about his new start with his third major league franchise at age 25. This is an unusually winding path for a young genius. But he knows this is more than just a franchise and seems happy to be part of its history now.
“This is going to be great. This is going to be fun. This is going to be great,” Soto told the Post hours before his first game in pinstripes.
If he had any anxiety, he didn’t show it before the game, or certainly during the game. Thursday’s game against the Yankees was a thrilling opening day success, with a 5-4 victory over the arch-rival Astros after a tough start. Soto had a typical offensive performance for him, but he also had some nice defensive separation in Game 1, and the Yankees are poised to have a long and storied career in New York following strong starts in Washington and San Diego. I wanted it.
In a script written for Star, Soto dons pinstripes for the first time to save the day.
“That was a Yankees classic, Juan’s debut,” captain Aaron Judge said after the game. “That speaks volumes about the type of player he is and the kind of presence he has.”
Soto walked 2 in 5 at-bats (his calling card), scored an early rally for the Yankees, and turned the game from a potential loss to the Astros to one of their most satisfying victories yet. changed to For a long time, maybe even before the disastrous 2023 season.
As much as this season and the Yankees have hopes for Soto’s career in pinstripes, the 2024 season could not begin with a more deserved victory over their hated rival. They also went through a lot to get the job done, which makes it even more amazing.
They overcame the absence of ace Gerrit Cole, the game’s best pitcher, who is out with an elbow injury. Cole said before the game that he was feeling well and hoped to return around June 1, which has often been rumored as a target date for his return. But until then, they’ll have to rely on a makeshift rotation with Nestor Cortez taking center stage here. Opening day.
They overcame the demons in this cruel residence, where in the past years there were many misfortunes. Houston fans were excited by the Astros’ quick 4-0 start, but the Yankees quickly closed in, tying the score on Oswaldo Cabrera’s home run and winning on a sacrifice fly from rookie Alex Verdugo. The Yankees would maintain the lead.
Best of all, they defeated the Astros, who have dominated the American League like few teams in the past, save for the Yankees. Seven consecutive appearances in the ALCS is pretty impressive. As we know by now, it all started with a dirty 2017 season, but since then there have been six real winning seasons, not including trash.
Even if some people were excited about the Astros, no one would forgive them. Manager Aaron Boone spoke of his usual positive attitude in his pregame press conference. And Soto felt good near his locker.
When it was pointed out that his $30 million player locker had a broken drawer in it, he just smiled. “You’re lucky,” he said.
I think we’ll find out in the next few hours.
“That was lucky, I said,” he told me later.
After a tough start, Cortez pitched great in the final three innings, especially hitting Astros star Framber Valdez, who was filling in for famed former Met Justin Verlander, a future Hall of Famer. exceeded.
In the fifth inning, Soto knocked out Valdez with a timely hit to the right field line for a three-run lead. But Soto’s biggest highlight came with a game-saving throw in the ninth inning, when a beautiful one-hop toss to catcher Jose Trevino nailed Mauricio Dubon to home plate.
Soto isn’t known for his defense. But he played his best game of the night, setting up well and hitting Alex Bregman to right field to get Dubon two outs.
“I knew I caught the ball because I couldn’t see him in the window when I caught it.” [expletive] It’s time,” Soto said later.
The Yankees hope this is the start of something special.
Soto showed he was ready to play from the start, and when asked before the game what his biggest wish for the season was, he immediately answered, “Winning the World Series.”
Then he set about what they had to do to make it possible and it started right away.
“We can do it,” he said. “It just sets the tone for tonight and this week.”
Soto is the man who has done just that with his masterful and memorable debut.
