New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Choose (99) and right fielder Juan Soto (22) take to the dugout before the start of the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Photos
NEW YORK — Before the Yankees entered the American League Division Series playoffs, New York manager Aaron Boone downplayed the size of the second baseman for slugger Juan Soto.
Alongside Aaron Choose, Soto is about to hit free agency at age 25 and is coming off a 41-homer, 109-RBI season with the Yankees.
“I don’t think about the free agency part. I don’t think it is,” Boone said Friday during a team workout at Yankee Stadium, the final preparation for Saturday’s ALDS opener against the Kansas Metropolis Royals. “I think he likes it being here and being a part of this team and knowing what’s at stake and what his opportunity is to do. He’s already been to the baseball playoffs win a tournament. He obviously knows what it takes.
“I think that’s what he’s thinking.” Talk about being present; I think he’s very present where he is, and obviously he’s coming off an amazing regular season. Obviously, he’s a guy we rely on a lot in our line, but I think he’s in a good place. »
“I don’t think it will ever develop like that. “I think he’ll want to … when that second one comes, they’ll take care of it,” Boone said. “But for the second one, I think he’s totally focused on going out there and playing on a big stage in the playoffs. »
Soto has hit 41 home runs in 214 games with the Padres and has 208 in his career, including five in 17 postseason games with the Nationals en route to the 2019 World Series .He added two in the postseason with the Padres in 2022.
Boone said he felt that Soto enjoyed being with the Yankees. From the manager to the 25th man on the roster, teammates also love Soto.
“I’d probably enjoy my time as well if I went out with those skills every day,” Boone said. “But seeing how he does it — watching him interact with his teammates and just seeing how easily he moves around the room. And in my opinion, the comfort he has in our room, that’s what tells me.”
Even opposing players praised Soto Friday when they spoke to reporters at Yankee Stadium. Right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha — who is expected to start Game 1 for the Royals and played with Soto on the Padres last season — called Soto an “amazing experience.”
“He stabilizes shots, drops balls out of the zone, and every time he settles down, he makes great contact with the ball and hits the ball hard and finding a lot of holes,” Wacha said. “He hits for average, hits for power, gets guys in. It’s an amazing experience, like I said. It’s someone you should definitely game plan for.
– Field level media
2024-10-05 00:20:36
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