After injuring his knee during a spectacular sliding catch against the right field wall at Oakland Coliseum on Thursday, New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was initially included in Friday’s lineup. However, due to lingering knee soreness, the Yankees decided to pull him from the lineup. Despite this, Soto stayed prepared, undergoing treatment and completing a pregame routine. “We tested the knee before the game,” Soto explained. “I hit in the cage and did some squats in the gym. It responded well.”
Throughout the game, Soto felt confident. “There wasn’t any soreness after all the work we did, so I knew I could be an option,” he said. Early in the game, Soto approached Yankees manager Aaron Boone, offering to pinch-hit if needed. Boone recalled, “Juan came up to me and said, ‘If we need a big hit late, I’m good.'”
In extra innings, with the game tied 1-1, Soto was called upon. He delivered a crucial pinch-hit RBI double, extending the Yankees’ lead to 3-1, and the team added another run later in the inning. Boone had been hesitant to use Soto with an automatic runner on second, fearing the Athletics would intentionally walk him. But when the situation evolved, Boone decided it was the right moment
Juan Soto comes off the bench and INSTANTLY makes his mark! pic.twitter.com/K0ngElib3C
— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2024
Soto, who sprinted for a double, said his knee felt “a little sore, but much better than earlier.” X-rays on his knee were negative, and when asked about playing Saturday, Soto replied that he’d wait to see how he felt in the morning.
At 25 years old, Soto has had an impressive season, batting .288/.419/.577 with 40 home runs, 104 RBIs, and 124 walks in 150 games. The Yankees, having secured a postseason berth on Wednesday, are just five wins away from clinching the AL East.
