The New York Yankees had the best start in baseball to begin June, but as of now, they are only 14-15. The lineup that surrounds Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, who were both selected as starters for the 2024 All-Star Game on Wednesday, is mostly to blame for it.
Soto expressed his enthusiasm for earning his inaugural All-Star start in his career, according to SNY.
“It holds significant meaning,” Soto acknowledged. “I’ve dedicated a lot of effort and perseverance to reach this point. Finally earning my first start feels really special.”
The delay in achieving this milestone seems puzzling, considering the 25-year-old’s impressive resume: he secured the NL batting title in 2020 and has garnered four Silver Slugger awards and two selections to the All-MLB first team. Nonetheless, Soto is focused on cherishing the present moment, especially as he anticipates sharing the field with Judge.
“It’s fantastic, he’s such a standout All-Star,” Soto continued. “He’s an exceptional baseball player. I’m thrilled to compete alongside him every day, and the All-Star Game will be even more memorable.”
Soto has closely observed Judge’s remarkable season, with the Yankee captain boasting a .318 batting average and leading the league in home runs (32), RBIs (83), and OPS (1.149). Judge has a chance to surpass his own AL single-season home run record of 62, set in 2022.
Soto has also been quite effective, hitting.300, 20 home runs, 61 RBI, and an OPS that is good for third place. With 74 walks, the former Washington National is also by far the league leader in walks. Judge comes in next closest with 62.
Regardless matter how long he stays in the Bronx, Soto will go down as one of the most influential players the team has had in a long time. Why is the 2019 World Series pitching staff so reliable?
Soto has shown off his unparalleled plate discipline on the Yankees
It says volumes that Soto gets so many walks even with the top batter covering him. Every time he comes up to bat, the four-time All-Star forces the pitcher to work hard by rarely chasing a pitch out of the zone.
New York manager Aaron Boone commented on Soto’s talent before the team’s 3-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, as reported by Mark W. Sanchez of The New York Post.
“He’s a generational hitter — that phrase gets used often with him, and I believe it’s accurate,” Boone said. “His consistency at the plate day in and day out stands out. Pairing him with Aaron in the lineup is something extraordinary that few have witnessed.”
Soto’s .437 on-base percentage is just behind Judge’s .438, highlighting his ability to reach base regularly despite the Yankees’ struggles following Giancarlo Stanton’s injury.
“It’s one of the best at-bats you can face anywhere at any time, and his understanding of his approach in the batter’s box is impressive,” Boone added.
New York’s offensive depth is a question mark and may need a significant trade-deadline boost. However, Judge and Soto will be able to keep the team in most games on their own until it figures itself out.