HOUSTON — Juan Soto stomped on the bottom and pounded his chest as he let loose a roar that could possibly be heard again in The Bronx. Aaron Decide flexed his proper arm at Soto, his manner of exhibiting how impressed he was with Soto’s cannon to house. From left subject, Alex Verdugo jumped within the air with each of his arms extending to the sky.
For 5 seconds, Minute Maid Park fell silent as Soto’s 87.6 mph throw from proper subject sailed within the air to house plate as Mauricio Dubón rounded third following a Kyle Tucker single. In a single movement, Soto charged in, scooped the ball and uncorked a rocket to the third base aspect of house plate for Jose Trevino to make the tag and protect a 5-4 New York Yankees’ come-from-behind win over the Houston Astros on Opening Day.
There was important hype surrounding the Yankees’ commerce for Soto this offseason. An argument could possibly be made that touchdown Soto is the most important commerce the Yankees have made since buying Babe Ruth from the Boston Pink Sox in 1920. Soto has already established himself as one of many best gamers of his technology, with a profession 154 wRC+ in his first six seasons. Solely 31 gamers in MLB historical past have had a 154 wRC+ or higher for his or her careers. And in his first official sport as a Yankee, Soto confirmed why the group has desperately needed him on its roster for a number of years now.
Juan Soto. New York Yankee. pic.twitter.com/I5bIc26Bzf
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 28, 2024
“That was a Yankee basic proper there,” Decide mentioned. “Juan’s debut, that was fairly particular out of him. He comes up and takes a stroll in his first at-bat, then comes up within the largest second of the sport and to be cool, calm, collected and ship a strike house, that simply speaks volumes to the kind of participant he’s and the presence he has.”
Soto stood in entrance of his locker carrying a diamond-encrusted No. 22 chain along with his patented Soto Shuffle emblem prominently displayed within the center. The Yankees’ proper fielder mentioned matter-of-factly that there was little doubt in his thoughts that he was going to nail Dubón at house plate. Soto just isn’t recognized for his protection. In 2023, he completed within the third percentile in outs above common. His arm ranks barely above common, however all spring he spoke about eager to show that he’s extra than simply an otherworldly hitter.
So, he labored extensively with outfield coach Luis Rojas all through spring coaching on the backfields. He felt like his power as an outfielder was charging in on balls, however he needed to develop in his route-running potential and improve his arm power after enjoying left subject for the Padres final season. The Yankees have needed Soto to exude the identical stage of swag he carries within the batter’s field out to the outfield. They imagine that stage of confidence might result in higher outcomes on protection. And in Sport 1, he confirmed that there’s extra to that aspect of his sport.
“I’ve received to do stuff to allow them to begin speaking,” Soto mentioned of his protection. “Stuff like I did at this time, I do know they’re going to be speaking about my protection in a while.”
Not solely will individuals be speaking about his protection, however his on-base prowess was already on full show in his first sport. In his first at-bat in opposition to Astros starter Framber Valdez, Soto labored an eight-pitch stroll. In his third at-bat, Soto drove house the Yankees’ first run of the day when he singled to proper subject with the bases loaded. He then added a second stroll within the eighth inning. Soto’s endurance on the plate was a part of a noticeably bigger pattern for the Yankees of their first sport: They labored counts and made opposing pitchers work, which was one thing that didn’t occur typically final season. Solely 4 occasions final season did the Yankees have at the very least 9 walks in a single sport; they did that of their first sport of the 2024 season.
Soto’s 1st hit as a Yankee 👏@JuanSoto25_ 👊 pic.twitter.com/Qa8NVggPCp
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 28, 2024
There’s nobody on the Yankees who embodies what the staff desires to be offensively this season greater than Soto. They wish to put on out opposing pitchers and grind them down. After getting down 4-0 after the second inning, the Yankees made Valdez work and pushed him out of the sport within the fifth inning after racking up six walks and 5 hits in opposition to him.
One of many largest takeaways the Yankees have had since Soto has been with the group is how he takes each second on the plate as critically as doable. Oswaldo Cabrera, who went 2-for-4 and hit a game-tying house run within the sixth inning, spoke earlier in spring about how he’s made it a degree to look at how Soto hits to all fields within the cage and doesn’t change his swing to attempt to hit bombs. It’s these issues which have already carried all the way down to the entire roster.
After Clay Holmes received Astros third baseman Alex Bregman to floor out to finish the sport, Soto ran over to Decide and Verdugo. Decide stood there along with his arms folded and a smile that stretched throughout his face as his new teammates embraced. It was only one sport however a full showcase for why Soto might find yourself having the contract with the best annual common worth within the sport this offseason. Nestor Cortes mentioned of Soto; “You all the time anticipate him to do nice issues.”
There’s cause to imagine this yr could possibly be particular if issues fall into place for the Yankees. Final season was a slog as they completed 82-80, however they didn’t have Soto. In only one sport, he confirmed why they hope he re-signs with the staff for the remainder of his profession. When requested if he felt like Soto’s vitality and boastfulness was a lacking factor of final yr’s staff, Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone took it one step additional.
“I imply, Juan Soto was a lacking factor, I’ll inform you that a lot.”
(Picture of Juan Soto: New York Yankees / Getty Photos)