Feb 25, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Juan Soto (22) works out before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Spring Training-Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees
(Bronx, NY) – As the Yankees prepared for Opening Day in Houston, manager Aaron Boone offered his newly acquired slugger Juan Soto a simple order: make yourself at home.
Although the Bronx Bombers begin the season on the road, Boone wants Soto to begin getting into the New York groove, by embracing his role within the franchise.
“My message to him is: It’s his clubhouse, too, and we want to learn and grow from you and want you to feel empowered to say and do whatever you feel like you need to do.”
Boone was answering a question from reporters as to how Soto can properly fit in with a veteran squad that includes longtime stars like Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gerritt Cole, Anthony Rizzo, and others.
It’s also worth noting that after Soto was dealt to the Padres from Washington, he and his San Diego teammates had some rumored locker room issues. Reports swirled suggesting big personalities (and egos) clashed between Soto, Manny Machado, and Fernando Tatis Jr. For his part, Soto denied those rumors.
Boone is going to keep a close eye on Soto’s early days with the Yankees. “Look, anytime you’re a player coming over to a team for the first time, I’m sure you’re toeing the water a little bit, getting a feel for everything,” Boone explained. As a guy who’s managed for years and played in the majors for even longer, he’s well qualified to know.
“I do feel like the team from a bonding standpoint has come together really well this spring in short order. I would include Juan in that. He seems very comfortable, he seems happy. I think our leaders do a great job of making guys feel at home. From a leadership and what kind of vocal role he takes, that probably still remains to be seen.”
Soto opened spring training swinging a hot bat, but cooled off as the season approached. Rather than join the team during their trip to Mexico, he stayed back at the complex in Tampa and worked on his swing. Boone expanded on that decision:
“He didn’t get a ton of results here the last couple of weeks, which I often think with a hitter of his caliber isn’t such a bad thing from a timing standpoint. Every hitter goes through little lulls at different points in the season, so hoping he got that out of the way here, but I think he’s ready to roll. He’s in a great mental state and I can’t wait to watch him go out and tear up the Bronx.”
Boone says he’s slotting Soto into the lineup’s two-hole, with Gleyber Torres batting leadoff, given DJ LeMahieu’s injury. Judge will bat third. And while the Houston Astros are the initial opponent, Soto hopes to get back them – and everyone else – en route to an AL Pennant.
That’s a goal he shares with his manager, Boone:
“I’m here to try to win the World Series. All of my energy and all of my focus is on trying to help us be the best possible team we can be and our goal is to be a world champion. I don’t look at like, ‘This has to happen for me to save my job.’ I’m in competition mode.'”
And as of Opening Day, so is the entire league.
