OAKLAND — A day after New York Yankees star Juan Soto injured his left knee sliding into a wall during a catch, he was a late scratch from the lineup with the possibility he could miss more time.
Manager Aaron Boone said that though X-rays didn’t reveal damage in Soto’s knee, the 25-year-old slugger was suffering from swelling and soreness.
“You’ve got to be cautious there,” Boone told reporters. “Pulled him out. (We’ll) see if he’s available at any point during the game.”
The Yankees initially submitted Friday’s batting order with Soto hitting second and playing right field against the Oakland A’s at the Coliseum. But an hour later, he was pulled from the lineup with Aaron Judge moving to right field, Trent Grisham starting in center field and Alex Verdugo in left field.
“I had (Soto) in there but I knew he was going to need some treatment today and was just kind of going through different physical exercises,” Boone said. “Just everyone felt it was the best thing to hold him out.”
Juan Soto scratched, swelling, Boone says. X-ray was negative. Could be an option during the game.
— Brendan Kuty 🧟♂️ (@BrendanKutyNJ) September 20, 2024
Boone said he was not “overly” concerned and that he considered Soto to be “day-to-day” in terms of availability. The Yankees have just nine games remaining in the regular season, including a three-game set to start next week against the Baltimore Orioles, the only threat to their lead in the American League East.
The Yankees were up four games in the division heading into Friday.
In the seventh inning of Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners, the Yankees’ right fielder made a sliding catch in foul territory but his knee crashed into the concrete portion of the wall. After making the catch, Soto got up to throw the ball back into the infield but immediately fell back down and stayed on the ground in pain for several minutes.
Soto stayed in the game, but afterward, he said he still felt pain when he ran and tried to hit and felt like he had suffered a bruise.
The Yankees will need Soto in the playoffs. The team clinched a postseason berth Wednesday. Staying healthy will also be important for Soto, whose free agency this offseason will be closely watched and could produce the most lucrative contract in MLB history. The Yankees are expected to be among the many teams vying for his services.
On Tuesday, Soto was keenly aware of his free agency after his homer at T-Mobile Park made it so that he has homered at all 30 active MLB stadiums.
“What a best way to go into free agency with all 30 ballparks checked (off) my list,” he told reporters at the time.
Soto has once again been one of the best hitters in the game, posting a .993 OPS that’s third-best in the game behind Judge (1.142) and the Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani (1.005).
On Thursday, Soto explained why he still risks injury despite a huge payday awaiting him.
“I feel like it’s just the adrenaline of the game,“ Soto said. “We’re trying to keep the game right there on the line and go out there and try our best. Like you mentioned, free agency and this and that, when I go in those lines, I forget about everything. I literally just focus on the game and trying to win the game and help the team to do the best.”
(Photo: Luke Hales / Getty Images)
