When Yankees star Juan Soto faced off against elite Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes in the All-Star Game, he didn’t get the result he wanted. Skenes, named the National League’s All-Star Game starter, generated excitement among fans about his potential matchups. Soto had his chance to bat against Skenes but ended up walking on seven pitches, the only batter to reach base against him. Soto, hoping for a more impactful at-bat, admitted, “I was trying to take him deep,” according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Soto swung at three of the seven pitches, with two whiffs and one foul ball, but Skenes held him at bay. Despite this, Soto had the last laugh as the AL won 5-3, with his two-RBI double in the third inning sparking the team’s scoring. The Yankees are optimistic Soto will deliver more home runs in the second half of the season.
Soto has been a powerhouse in his first year in New York, hitting 23 home runs (tied for sixth-most in the majors) and boasting a .295 batting average, 66 RBIs, five stolen bases, and an MLB-high 79 walks. Since joining the league in 2018, Soto has maintained a .285 batting average with 183 home runs, 549 RBIs, and 55 steals. He’s a four-time All-Star, Silver Slugger, and World Series champion. As a free agent after the season, his future with the Yankees is uncertain, but his current performance has helped the team to a 58-40 record, just one game behind the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East.
The Yankees anticipated Soto’s All-Star Game appearance and are now focused on a World Series run, which could be a factor in keeping Soto long-term.
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