TAMPA — Yankees rookie slugging superstar Juan Soto stunned fans and impressed his teammates with a three-run homer that sailed into the left-field scoreboard in his pinstripe debut Sunday, but he personally He has not yet revealed his goals or expectations. First (and possibly only) season in the Bronx. However, he guarantees his two things.
1. The famous Soto Shuffle will be on full display this year.
2. He isn’t shy about doing crowd-pleasing bat flips whenever the situation arises.
Soto already has a calm, positive presence inside the storied clubhouse and has looked great at the plate. An opposite-field home run off Jays veteran right-hander Trevor Richards and a walk in his third at-bat represented a typical midseason Soto performance.
Soto, who said how much he was happier to be cheered than booed by Yankees fans, hit a high home run well outside the strike zone.
“I enjoyed every minute,” Soto said of the day.
This year promises to be a fun year, and in an interview with the Post the previous day, he vowed to keep his fun style intact, including his famous post-pitch shuffle.
“100 percent, I shuffle every time,” Soto told the Post. “Everyone knows that’s part of my game. If [people] I’m going to do it whether they like it or not. ”
Soto said he really enjoyed it when he imitated his new Yankees teammate Marcus Stroman’s shuffle after one strikeout. He said the pitcher who whiffed him could celebrate all he wanted.
“I always tell guys, I’m going to do my thing, so you guys can do your thing,” Soto said. “If you hit me in the big moments, I’ll do whatever you want. It’s part of the game.
“I’m not angry,” he continued. “I’m just tipping my hat, so I’ll see you next time. But, by all means, if I get you, don’t be so annoying. When I hit a big home run, I’m going to send my bat 500 feet in the air.” .”
Soto may be loud about it, but even if he ends up being the No. 2 hitter in the lineup instead of the No. 3 spot he had previously hoped for, as expected on Sunday, he’s likely to be disappointed. I’m not going to say a word. he understands that. Aaron Judge won MVP and set the American League home run record while wearing this uniform.
What’s more, at just 25 years old and still a student of the game, Soto knows he’s in the best position in the sport in front of the game’s most feared player and arguably the best hitter. (Although there are cases like Yordan Alvarez, Shohei Ohtani, and maybe Soto himself). Soto said he thinks he won’t walk as much with Judge behind him, which should be a plus for him.
“I don’t care anymore,” Soto said about whether he’ll play No. 2 or No. 3. [batting second] It was unpleasant. I liked the 3rd hole because I had never played 2 holes before. It was hard for me to do that.But now I have experience on the second hole. [in San Diego last year], that’s okay. ”
Soto was a real treat in front of the judges, and so should be at Yankee Stadium, which is full of great left-handed hitters and boasts a career .826 slugging percentage. Although he has had some success with his cameos in the Bronx, he doesn’t think the appealing dimensions of right field will help him.
“They talk about the short porch at Yankee Stadium. But I’m more of a left fielder,” Soto said. “I’m not trying to pull anything out, I’m just going to keep trying to go in the opposite direction. If they try to attack me, I’ll react. But most of the time, I’m going in that direction. I’m going to.”
According to Statcast, Soto is on to something.
According to their analysis, he hit 35 home runs last year in every home game at Petco Park, which is typically pitcher-friendly, but in every game at The Stadium. It has been suggested that there may have been only 29 pieces.
The contradictions are equally striking when looking at his career as a whole. He would have hit 141 home runs instead of 167, according to Statcast.
His drive Sunday could have gone well over the fence and onto Dale Mabry Highway if the scoreboard hadn’t intervened.
“I’ve never seen the ball hit like that,” Aaron Boone said.
The judges were even more impressed with the approach.The judge said, “I admired it.” [Soto] Although I watched from a distance, I loved seeing the intensity of each pitch up close.
Soto, who will be a free agent after the 2024 season, had mixed reactions when he received a phone call from Padres GM AJ Preller that he was being traded during winter meetings. However, he was happy to go to the Yankees. It had nothing to do with parks or fame, but rather with players.
“I know about the Yankees’ tradition, but I’m happy to be here because it gives us another chance to win,” Soto said. “That’s what excites me. I was going to go with the judge, but [Anthony] Lizzo, everyone… [DJ] Gerrit LeMahieu [Cole],Carlos [Rodon]. We have a really good group. ”
He didn’t do a 500-foot bat flip when he heard of his new destination. But maybe that’s how he felt.
