After watching a solar eclipse together, the Yankees made quick work of the Marlins on Monday, beating them 7-0 in a game that took 2 hours and 1 minute. The win pushed the Yankees to 9-2, matching their best 11-game start in franchise history.
Juan Soto hit his first home run in pinstripes during the game, crushing a three-run blast off Jesús Luzardo in the fourth inning.
“It’s impressive what he does,” said Nestor Cortes, who held Miami scoreless over eight innings. “He’s so young. It looks like he’s been in the league for a long time already, which he has. But it looks like he’s been here 10 or 12 years now.
“He just goes about his business like a true professional. I see him in here every day. Works hard, wants to get better every single day. And then he shows it out on the field. He goes out there and performs, has really good at-bats on the plate, and is a really good right fielder, too. So he’s just a complete package.”
Shortly after that, a reporter asked Soto to describe the Yankees’ clubhouse culture thus far.
“I would call it family,” the superstar said. “I mean, we all feel like a family right now. It’s only been like 11 games, and we already feel like we are sticking together. We’re pushing together. We all want the same thing.”
Soto is an impending free agent all but guaranteed to test the open market, where he could command a contract that exceeds a decade and $500 million. So that sentimental quote drew lots of attention from a fanbase that has already fallen in love with the 25-year-old slugger after just a few games.
For what it’s worth, Soto says the feeling is mutual.
“I don’t want to lie: I think so,” he replied when asked if the Bronx faithful has been better than expected. “They’ve been showing up every day, and it’s been amazing. Day in, day out and in the entire game. That’s pretty dope.”
Soto added that he leaned on the fans to determine if his home run, hit to right field, had stayed fair.
“When that ball landed and they just jumped out of their seats, it felt pretty good,” he said of the crowd’s eruption. When Soto returned to right field on defense, the fans roared again.
Juan Soto slams his first homer in the Bronx as a Yankee! pic.twitter.com/tLTGyJaHZV
— MLB (@MLB) April 8, 2024
Earlier in the night, Soto signed a ball for a fan as Cortes was getting ready to throw his first pitch of the game. The outfielder, unsure of the time, hesitated at first, but he thought he had a few minutes to work with and lent his signature.
When he realized Cortes was about to throw, Soto got back into position just in time.
“They’re giving you a lot of love,” Soto said of Yankees fans, “so you gotta give them some love back.”
Soto signs for a fan! What a guy pic.twitter.com/QZk3Nk13dS
— Mario G (@marioagomez_1) April 8, 2024
It’s too soon to know if Soto’s quick bond with the Yankee Stadium crowd will have any impact on his future plans — he also praised Padres fans on Monday night — but he seems to be enjoying New York so far. The “family” quote certainly said so, and there have been other hints as Soto nears long-term stability this offseason.
Anthony Volpe, who also hit a three-run homer in the fourth frame on Monday, took notice of how Yankees fans have received Soto. He’s also been amazed by his new teammate’s “incredible” talent.
But Volpe said the “coolest part” of what Soto does happens in the clubhouse, where he has taken younger players under his wing.
“He brings the energy,” Volpe said, “and we’re obviously all looking towards him to see what he’s doing and see how he leads by example.”
