Juan Soto has been the cornerstone of the New York Yankees’ offense. Hitting .286 with 40 home runs and 103 RBIs in 548 at-bats, his presence in the lineup is crucial. So, when fans saw their star crash into a wall and drop to the ground during Thursday night’s game, panic ensued.
Soto’s importance to the Yankees can’t be overstated. Acquired in a blockbuster trade from the San Diego Padres, where New York gave up five players to secure him, the Dominican outfielder has had an immediate and game-changing impact. His performances have helped solidify the Yankees’ push for the World Series.
Since his arrival, Soto has become an indispensable part of Aaron Boone’s roster. He has already been named AL Player of the Week and was selected as a starting outfielder in the All-Star Game.
With the playoffs approaching, keeping Soto healthy is vital for the Yankees. However, a high-risk play in the final game of the series against the Seattle Mariners sent shockwaves through the team and fanbase
In the seventh inning, Soto made a sliding catch in foul territory near right field. Though he made the spectacular catch, his knee slammed into the concrete below the padded wall.
Soto managed to stand and throw the ball to the infield but immediately collapsed, clutching his knee. Boone, several teammates, and trainers rushed to his side as the star outfielder lay on the field for several tense minutes.
Following the game, Soto was evaluated by the team’s medical staff for over an hour and underwent X-rays to determine the severity of the injury. Fortunately for the Yankees, it was only a bruise, with no fractures or major damage. However, Soto will remain under observation, and his availability for Friday’s game against the Oakland Athletics will depend on how he recovers.
At the postgame press conference, Boone expressed his relief but also admitted how worried he was when Soto went down. “My biggest fear was that he twisted something. I think sliding like that probably preserved him a little bit, but he banged his knee pretty good,” the manager said.
Soto shared the sentiment. “I was really worried. When I threw the ball in, there was a lot of pain in my kneecap. But over time, it started getting better. Definitely, I was a little scared right there,” he admitted.
In the end, Soto’s effort wasn’t enough, as the Yankees lost 3-2. Despite taking the series in Seattle 2-1, the Yankees still don’t have a postseason spot secured. They must win six of their last nine games to clinch a playoff berth as AL East leaders, and losing Soto would have been a major blow to those aspirations.
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