Juan Soto’s popularity among New York Yankees fans grows with each passing day. The All-Star right fielder is wrapping up the best 162-game season of his career (.286 batting average, 40 home runs,.575 slugging, and.993 OPS). But it’s not just Soto’s impressive power and plate discipline that has The Bronx enthralled. His enthusiasm and passion have struck a strong chord with fans, particularly the Bleacher Creatures. However, such passion carries some risk.
Soto collided with the wall while making a spectacular sliding catch in foul area in the Yankees’ 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. He allayed fears by getting up and continuing in the game, but New York will not take any chances. According to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, the 25-year-old will be removed from the team’s lineup against the Oakland Athletics on Friday due to pain and swelling.
Soto’s X-rays are negative, so perhaps the Yankees brass is simply being careful. A banged-up slugger might jeopardise their October plans, which revolve around breaking a 15-year World Series drought. If one of the team’s top two players enters the playoffs at less than 100 percent, New York’s offence might appear as frighteningly weak as it has in previous postseasons.
That being said, the Yankees (89-64) still have a lot to play for in the next nine games of the 2024 season. They have failed to secure the American League East (they host the 85-68 Baltimore Orioles in a series that begins on Tuesday) and are competing with the Cleveland Guardians for the AL’s top seed. Juan Soto may be required to achieve both benefits, but his long-term health is clearly the top goal.
Manager Aaron Boone is likely hoping that a day or two of rest will keep the upcoming free agent from pushing through pain when the games count the most. Normally, even in Soto’s absence, fans would be confident in the outcome of a game against a weaker team, but the A’s are feisty and more talented than they were anticipated to be in 2024. They also play for Oakland, from which they may depart permanently following next week’s three-game series against the Texas Rangers.
This could be the ideal situation for the Yankees. However, if it means unleashing a healthy Soto on the rest of the AL field in a few weeks, they will gladly take out their umbrellas for a road matchup at the Coliseum.
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