Juan Soto unapologetically reveling in Yankees chance after fast start

TAMPA New Yankees slugging superstar Juan Soto, who wowed fans and impressed teammates by hitting a long, three-run home run off the left-field scoreboard in his pinstriped debut here Sunday, hasnt revealed any personal goals or predictions yet for his first (and possibly only) season in The Bronx. He does, however, guarantee two things.

1. The famed Soto Shuffle will be on full display this year, and;

2. He will not be shy about crowd-pleasing bat flips whenever the situation arises.

Soto, already a calm, positive presence inside the storied clubhouse, looks terrific at bat. The homer the opposite way off veteran Jays righthander Trevor Richards plus a walk in three plate appearances represented a typical midseason Soto performance.

Soto, who noted how it was nice to be cheered instead of booed by Yankees fans, clubbed the homer on a high pitch, well out of the strike zone.

Explore More

Cody Poteet impresses again as potential Yankees pitching option

Nestor Cortes’ shoulder felt ‘best it’s ever been’ in another promising Yankees outing

Juan Soto has Yankees in awe after launching third homer in four games

I enjoyed every minute, Soto said of the day.

This promises to be one enjoyable year, and in an interview with The Post the day before, he guaranteed he isnt changing his fun style, including his famed post-pitch shuffle.

One hundred percent, Im doing my shuffle every time, Soto told The Post. Everyone knows that its part of my game. If people like it or they dont, Im going to do it.

3Yankees right fielder Juan Soto hits a three-run homer in the fourth inning on Sunday. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostSoto said he actually enjoyed it when new Yankees teammate Marcus Stroman imitated the shuffle after striking him out once. Pitchers who whiff him can celebrate however they want, he said.

I always tell guys I will do my stuff, and you can do your stuff, Soto said. If you strike me out big-time, big moment, you can do whatever you want. Its part of the game.

I wont get mad, he continued. Im just going to tip my cap, and Ill see you next time. But definitely, when I get you, dont be mad at me because its going to be loud. When I hit a big home run, Im going to flip my bat 500 feet in the air.

Soto might be loud about that but hes not going to say a discouraging word if, as expected, he bats second in the lineup instead of his previously preferred No. 3 spot, as he did Sunday. He gets it. Aaron Judge has won an MVP and set the American League home run record in this uniform.

Beyond that, Soto a student of the game at only 25, knows hell be in the best spot in the sport, in front of the games most feared and arguably also its best hitter (although Yordan Alvarez, Shohei Ohtani and Soto himself may have a case, too). Soto said he figures with Judge behind him, he wont walk quite as much, which should be a plus for him.

I dont care anymore, Soto said about whether he hits No. 2 or 3. In the past, batting second was uncomfortable. I liked third because Id never done the two-hole. It was tough for me to do that. But I have experience in the number-two hole now in San Diego last year, so thats going to be fine.

3Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge hugging right fielder Juan Soto on Sunday. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostSoto in front of Judge should be a real treat, and so should Soto in Yankee Stadium, where great left-handed hitters have dominated and he himself has a career .826 slugging percentage. While hes thrived in his cameos in The Bronx, the inviting right-field dimensions arent something he thinks will aid him.

They talk about the short porch at Yankee Stadium. But Im more of a left-field hitter, Soto said. Im not trying to pull anything Im going to keep trying to go the other way. If they try to attack me, I will react. But mostly, Im going to go that way.

According to Statcast, Soto is on to something.

Their analytics suggest he would have hit only 29 home runs playing all his games at The Stadium last year instead of 35 playing home games at PETCO Park, which is generally pitcher-friendly.

Never Miss a Story

Sign up to get the best stories straight to your inbox.

Thank you

Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter!

Check out more newslettersOver his career, the discrepancy is just as stark. Statcast says he would have hit 141 homers rather than 167.

His Sunday drive well over the fence might have rolled to Dale Mabry Highway if the scoreboard hadnt interceded.

You dont see balls hit like that, Aaron Boone said.

Judge was more impressed by the approach. Judge said hed admired Soto from afar, but loved seeing the pitch-by-pitch intensity up close.

Soto, a free agent after the 2024 season, felt mixed reactions upon hearing he was traded during the winter meetings in a phone call from Padres GM AJ Preller. However, he was pleased to be going to the Yankees. It wasnt anything to do with the park or prestige, it was more about the players.

3Yankees left fielder Juan Soto (22) runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning on Sunday. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConI know about the Yankees tradition but the reason Im glad to be here is I got another chance to win, Soto said. Thats what gets me excited. I was going to be with Judge, Anthony Rizzo, all the guys DJ LeMahieu, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon. We have a really good group.

Upon hearing his new destination, he didnt do a 500-foot bat flip. But he may have felt like it.