Juan Soto Cracks Homer and Signs Autographs in Yankees Win
Juan Soto’s lovefest with the Yankees continues to impress.
The All-Star slugger and free-agent-to-be crushed a three-run homer and signed autographs for fans in the right field bleachers as the Yankees trounced the Miami Marlins 7-0.
Soto’s three run bomb in the bottom of the fourth inning was his second home run as a Yankee, and first at Yankee Stadium. The blast followed Anthony Volpe’s own three-run shot in the same inning.
Before he even slugged his first Yankee Stadium homer, Soto was busy making himself into the man of the people, sort to speak, as he signed an autograph from a fan in the right field bleachers. The signing took place just before Nestor Cortes threw a pitch.
“I saw the clock too, and was hesitating because the game was about to start. I turned around and Nestor is almost moving to make his pitch,” Soto said.
Aaron Boone commented on Soto’s impact in New York ” Am I surprised the fan base can’t wait to embrace him? It feels like a match made in heaven. Let’s evaluate the relationship down the line. I can’t imagine him not being beloved the way he goes about things.”
We’ll see if this becomes a trend for Soto. Don’t be shocked to see more fans carry balls into right field hoping he signs.
Regardless, Soto is off to a flying start in New York. He is batting .357 through 10 games and leads the Yankees with 10 RBI.
Volpe, who homered as well, is having a splendid spring as well, batting .417 with six RBI in the early season.
The exploits of players like Soto and Volpe have shielded others like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, both of whom are off to slow starts.
Entering play on Tuesday, Judge is batting only .175. Stanton is hitting .250, while Alex Verdugo is stuck at .211.
Of course these are players more than capable of breaking out, which could happen at any moment.
The Yankees (8-2) continue their series with the Miami Marlins on Tuesday and Wednesday evening.