CHICAGO — The first at-bat of Tuesday’s game lingered in Juan Soto’s mind. He knew he should’ve hammered Chicago White Sox starter Jonathan Cannon’s cutter that hung in the top of the zone. Instead, Soto smashed a ball 99.9 mph into the ground.
Soto is a known perfectionist with his swing. When the New York Yankees traveled to Mexico City in spring training for two exhibition games, Soto stayed back in Tampa at the team’s player development complex because he felt his swing was out of sync just days before the regular season started. He needed to lock in.
On Tuesday, Soto stood in right field in the bottom of the first inning and stewed over his missed opportunity. When the inning ended, Soto grabbed his bat and headed toward the tunnel to swing. He envisioned what he was going to do the next time Cannon attacked him in the zone. He wasn’t going to miss again.
The Yankees right fielder feels his best at the plate when he drives the ball to left field. Only Boston Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers and Soto’s teammate, Aaron Judge, have more home runs to the opposite field this season. After Soto’s first career three-homer game, two of which he hit to left field, he has eight to the opposite field on the season. Soto’s preparation in between his first and second at-bat made the difference for him.
“I was kind of joking with him: ‘That’s all it takes? A couple of dry swings and you hit a couple of homers?’” Judge said. “And then he did it a third time.”
When the team first arrived at camp in February, Soto’s cage work became appointment viewing behind the scenes. Judge joked that it would sometimes feel like 40 people hovered around the back of the netting to get a glimpse of Soto at work. Oswaldo Cabrera changed his approach at the plate because of how inspired he was by Soto’s batting practice. After the Yankees traded for Soto in December, Judge started preparing questions of what he wanted to ask the 25-year-old: Why does he do certain drills off the tee? Why does he ditch his leg kick on two strikes? What does Soto do that can make him even better at the plate?
“A guy like Juan Soto who has had so much success in the game, I love a lot of the things he does with his swing,” Judge said. “That’s what this game is about, trying to learn as much as you can. If I can take one thing that he does and add it to my game to make myself better, that’s what it’s all about.”
The Yankees haven’t received this level of production out of teammates since 1927 when Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig led the Murderers’ Row. Ruth’s wRC+ in 1927 was 208, meaning he was 108 percent better than the league average hitter. Gehrig’s was 205. In 2024, Judge’s wRC+ is 219, the third-greatest single season in Yankees history. Not far behind is Soto at 192. Since 2000, there have only been 10 instances of a player finishing with at least a 192 wRC+ in a season. None of those players have ever been on the same team at the same time.
“I can’t imagine a tandem being more dominant than they’ve been all season long,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
The Yankees have the best offense in baseball because they employ Soto and Judge. If they continue producing at historic levels, those two hitters alone can carry this team deep into October. Soto had his moment to create more history in the ninth inning. Only 18 players have hit four home runs in one game; it’s an event rarer than a perfect game (24 occasions). White Sox reliever Jared Shuster threw three consecutive balls to Soto before throwing a slider out of the zone on a 3-0 count. Soto took a massive hack and whiffed. He smiled. He ranks in the 99th percentile in chase rate, but he allowed himself the chance to try for home run No. 4 on the night.
Soto ended up walking, leaving him just short of MLB history.
“I want everyone to challenge Juan Soto,” Judge said. “I got my money on Juan in that situation. He did what he did and passed the baton and got it to the next guy. That’s who he is. That’s why he’s the greatest hitter in the game. If you leave a pitch in the zone, he’ll do damage, but if you don’t throw to him, he’ll let the next guy do his thing.”
Soto and Judge are in a disagreement though on who the game’s best hitter is.
“I call him the greatest hitter in the world,” Soto said. “Look at his numbers. He’s just unbelievable. He makes my job easier. He makes my plate appearances a little better. When you hit in front of a guy like that, you know you’re getting pitches. He’s the greatest one.”
Every time Soto does something otherworldly, it’s another reminder that the Yankees must do everything they can to keep him in pinstripes for the rest of his career. A free agent at season’s end, Soto seems destined to make at least $500 million this offseason. The trade to bring him to New York has worked wonderfully for the Yankees. His addition could lead the Yankees to their 28th title.
“We went and got him and paid a big price to bring him here because we know what a special player that he is,” Boone said. “We’ve seen every bit of that and probably more.”
(Photo of Aaron Judge celebrating with Juan Soto after Soto’s third homer against the White Sox: Kamil Krzaczynski / USA Today)
