Late Wednesday night, the New York Yankees were popping beer and champagne bottles after clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2022. It’s been a season full of ups and downs, starting strong before facing challenges since mid-June. The acquisition of Juan Soto by general manager Brian Cashman revitalized the lineup, creating a superstar pairing with Aaron Judge.
However, just a day after their celebration, the Yankees faced a scare with Soto.
In the bottom of the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners, Jorge Polanco hit a deep fly ball to the right field foul line. Soto sprinted to chase it down and slid into the wall to make the catch but struggled to get up afterward, clearly favoring his left knee following the collision.
Soto was still in the game, though. He’s not completely out of the picture, though.
Juan Soto getting X-ray on left knee after outfield collision
After the game, Soto announced that he would undergo a precautionary x-ray on his left knee, with his status for Friday’s game against the Oakland Athletics hinging on how he feels. What adds to the concern regarding this potential injury is Soto’s revelation that he slid directly into the concrete part of the wall during the play.
Juan Soto made a terrific catch sliding into the wall in foul territory. He appeared to injure his leg but is staying in the game pic.twitter.com/OwODPYAfL8
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 19, 2024
Hearing Soto mention concrete brought back painful memories for Yankees fans. Last season, Aaron Judge crashed through the outfield gate at Dodger Stadium while making a catch, injuring his foot when it collided with the exposed concrete. That injury kept him sidelined for a significant part of the season.
Juan Soto said he slid directly into concrete and will have X-rays. Asked if he expects to play tomorrow at Oakland, he said it depends on how the knee feels in the morning.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) September 19, 2024
Now, fresh off clinching a playoff spot, the Yankees are focused on securing the AL East title with a crucial series against the Baltimore Orioles ahead. Losing Soto as they head into the playoffs would be the last thing they need.
This season, Soto has put up impressive numbers with a .286 batting average, .418 on-base percentage, .575 slugging percentage, 40 home runs, 103 RBIs, 120 runs, and 157 hits in 548 at-bats over 149 games.
As he approaches free agency this winter, Soto is expected to command a contract exceeding $500 million, making any late-season injury particularly concerning. However, his focus remains on helping the Yankees secure their 28th World Series title. For now, both Soto and the Yankees are anxiously awaiting the results of his precautionary x-ray.
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