Juan Soto continued his power surge on Sunday, reaching a significant milestone in the New York Yankees’ thrilling 8-7 win over the Texas Rangers. Soto, the Yankees’ star outfielder, crushed two home runs, bringing his season total to 30 and edging closer to the 200-home run mark in his career.
What happened
The first of Juan Soto’s two homers came in the third inning when he launched a towering shot to right field, marking his 29th of the season. The blast gave the Yankees an early lead and set the tone for what would be a back-and-forth battle. But Soto wasn’t finished. In the seventh inning, with the game tied, he unleashed another homer, this time a solo shot that gave the Yankees a crucial advantage. This marked his 30th home run of the season, a testament to his consistency and power at the plate.
After the game, Juan Soto gave an interview to MLB Network, stating he was just trying to ‘keep the same approach’ he uses against right-handers and focus on pulling the ball and playing his game. He also noted the energy was great that afternoon.
“We’re going by every series, trying to win every time. We don’t try to give up in any of them. Every time we step out there, our goal is to win the series.”
Since his MLB debut in 2018, Juan Soto has been one of the most feared hitters in the league, known for his ability to hit for both average and power, combined with an exceptional eye at the plate. His 30th homer not only adds to his impressive career total of 190, putting him just ten shy of the 200 milestone, but it also solidifies his place among the game’s elite sluggers.
This is the third time in Juan Soto’s career that he has reached the 30-home run plateau. His career-high came last season with the San Diego Padres when he belted 35 home runs. He also hit 34 homers in 2019 while with the Washington Nationals, where he first established himself as a premier power hitter.
Soto is now the fourth American League player to hit 30 home runs this season, joining an exclusive club that includes his Yankees teammate Aaron Judge, who leads the majors with 42 homers. The Baltimore Orioles’ Anthony Santander and Cleveland Guardians’ José Ramírez are the only other AL players with more than 30 home runs in 2024.
Juan Soto’s offensive production has been a key component of the Yankees’ lineup throughout the season. He ranks in the top ten in several major offensive categories across the league, including batting average (.304), on-base percentage (.429), slugging percentage (.589), OPS (1.018), RBIs (82), runs (97), and walks (95). His performance has been instrumental in keeping the Yankees in the playoff hunt as the season enters its final stretch.
Juan Soto’s second homer on Sunday was also the 190th of his career, and he’s on pace to finish the season with 37 long balls, which would bring his career total to 197 by year’s end. With Soto set to hit free agency after this season, his value continues to soar, making him one of the most sought-after players on the market. The Yankees, who acquired Soto in a blockbuster seven-player trade with the Padres this past offseason, will have to decide whether they can afford to let such a talent walk away without an extension.
The Yankees will look to carry the momentum from Sunday’s win into their next series as they take on the Chicago White Sox on Monday. With Juan Soto’s bat heating up, the Yankees are poised to make a strong push in the final weeks of the regular season.
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