When great Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes was selected the National League’s All-Star Game starter, fans began salivating over his opponent. New York Yankees star Juan Soto had the opportunity to face Skenes, but it did not go as planned.
Soto ended up drawing a walk on seven pitches, being the only batter to reach base against Skenes. However, when he came to the bat, the Yankees slugger attempted to have a far more explosive effect, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
“I was trying to take him deep,” Soto explained. “No lie.”
He eventually swung at three of the seven pitches he saw. The first two were whiffs, and the third was a foul. Despite Soto’s desire to hit home runs, Skenes was able to keep him at bay. At least he wasn’t alone in this way; Skenes threw four swinging strikes in his inning of work.
Still, Juan Soto had the last laugh as the American League won 5-3. Soto’s two-run double in the third inning gave his side a boost, and it was exactly what they needed, as the AL went on to score five unearned runs.
While those runs did not include a Soto home run, the Yankees hope he is storing it for the second half of the season. But he’ll be ready the next time Paul Skenes takes the mound.
Juan Soto’s impact for Yankees
Soto has given a lot of power in his debut year in New York. With 23 home runs this season, he is tied for sixth in the majors. Soto has also posted a.295 batting average, 66 RBI, five stolen bases, and an MLB-high 79 walks.
When the Yankees traded for Soto, they knew what they were getting themselves into. After missing the playoffs in 2023, New York opted to end their postseason drought at one. Soto has been an offensive force since joining the league in 2018, with a.285 batting average, 183 home runs, 549 RBI, and 55 stolen bases. He had four All-Star appearances, a Silver Slugger Award, and a World Series championship.
However, Juan Soto will also be a free agent at the end of the season. There is no assurance that the Yankees will keep him, and his deal will undoubtedly be big given that he is still only 25 years old. Still, the team’s strategy appears to be working for the time being, as their 58-40 record places them in the top AL Wild Card spot and one game behind the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East.
The Yankees fully expected Soto to make the All-Star Game. Perhaps he didn’t anticipate confronting Skenes so early in his career. However, once the All-Star break ends, the attention will shift to winning the World Series. It would be a strong endorsement for New York to retain Soto around for the long run.
