Juan Soto booed in return to Yankee Stadium

NEW YORK — The Subway Sequence at all times creates a buzz round right here, and the buildup to this 12 months’s crosstown rivalry had a better stage of spice to it. Not solely are the Yankees and Mets in first place of their divisions, however the Bronx’s greatest villain, Juan Soto, made his first journey again to Yankee Stadium since he jettisoned for Queens.

Yankees followers have waited for today since early December. When the second lastly arrived, they packed out the home with the biggest crowd (47,700) of the 12 months, after which they let him hear it. The ear-splitting, guttural sounds had been the loudest Soto had ever heard being directed at him. Nonetheless, he didn’t thoughts.

“You gotta embrace it,” Soto stated after the Mets misplaced, 6-2, to the Yankees on Friday evening. “On the finish of the day, no matter they offer you, it’s what it’s. You gotta be skilled. You gotta take it like a person, and I used to be simply having fun with the second.”

It’s exhausting to listen to the individual sitting subsequent to you in Yankee Stadium; that’s how deafening the pregame music is within the Bronx. However the boos that rained down on Soto when he took the sector for pregame stretches overpowered even the Yankees’ soundsystem. The gang booed once more, and once more, and once more, and once more, when his face popped up on the jumbotron throughout lineup introductions, and when he walked as much as the plate within the prime of the primary inning.

Alas, Soto is nothing if not ready. The previous Yankees slugger responded to the vicious jeers by eradicating his helmet, tapping his chest, and saying “thanks” a number of instances whereas sporting a wry smile. Soto knew what he was doing when he picked the Mets over the Yankees in free company, a call that was knowledgeable by the reception he would obtain within the Bronx for the remainder of his profession.

“We had been simply joking within the dugout that I ought to do it, and I simply did it,” Soto stated of his hat-tip. “The blokes cherished it.”

Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza was happy with the way in which Soto dealt with being public enemy No. 1.

“He’s simply very regular,” Mendoza stated. “He doesn’t get too excessive, doesn’t get too low. He knew that this was coming. Like I advised him a few days in the past, embrace it. Attempt to take pleasure in each second of it, and simply be your self. And that’s what he did. I believed at present he was the identical man. I believed he dealt with it rather well. That’s what makes this man who he’s. Elite. His character is off the charts.”

Whereas he might not have loved breaking Yankees followers’ hearts, Soto appeared to relish their hatred of him. He smiled each time he walked from the dugout to the plate, all of the whereas persevering with to be serenaded by acrimony. Yankees followers got here ready, too, with a fan holding an indication that stated “Boo this man!” below an image of a smug-looking Soto in a Mets uniform slapped onto white paper. One other signal learn: “22 seems to be higher on Ben Rice.”

When Soto jogged out to proper area to take his place within the backside of the primary inning, the part of followers behind him, dubbed the Bleacher Creatures, turned their backs on him, not even acknowledging his presence. Maybe the gesture was a metaphor for Soto turning his again on the Yankees when he selected to rep Queens. Moments later, “We’ve got Grisham!” chants broke out in proper area, alluding to the Yankees’ acquisition of outfielder Trent Grisham as a part of the Soto commerce.

“I did not notice that,” Soto stated when requested if he noticed followers turning their backs in direction of him. “I used to be simply listening to the boos. Did not have any eye contact. Simply listened to the boos.”

If the group’s level was to convey that the first-place Yankees had been doing simply advantageous with out Soto, the Bronx Bombers backed up that conviction by forcing Mets starter Tylor Megill to exit his outing after 72 pitches within the third inning. The Yankees batted across the order and scored 4 runs as Megill misplaced his command and permitted a season-high 5 walks within the third.

Soto had an opportunity to restrict the harm from his former crew when Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe hit a routine fly ball to shallow proper with two outs within the third. Soto caught the ball, however didn’t make his finest throw residence, and the two-hopper to the dish was too gradual to beat Cody Bellinger, who scored the third run of the inning for the Yankees.

For his half on the plate, Soto wasn’t fazed by the noise. He drew a stroll in every of his three plate appearances in opposition to Yankees right-hander Carlos Rodon. The Mets entered Friday with the tenth highest-scoring offense within the main leagues, however they didn’t do sufficient behind Soto’s free passes to make a comeback in opposition to their crosstown rivals.

“It was loud,” Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza stated of the group. “That’s what makes this place distinctive. I believed they had been very respectful, and that’s what you need. You’ll be able to boo all you need and all that, however so long as they’re not crossing the road.”

Simply over six months in the past, Soto was handled like a king within the Bronx.

He hit 41 residence runs, a profession excessive, earlier than taking the Yankees to the World Sequence for the primary time in 15 years. He shaped one of many deadliest duos in Main League Baseball historical past, hitting in entrance of Aaron Choose. He was beloved by the Yankees fan base, who purchased Soto’s No. 22 jersey and confirmed up in droves to observe him play in pinstripes for one 12 months. All he needed to do to get the keys to the town was keep.

However Soto didn’t simply go away, he discovered a brand new residence lower than 10 miles away. The 26-year-old signed a 15-year, $765-million contract with the Mets, the biggest deal in skilled sports activities historical past. For Yankees followers who’re used to getting what they need, Soto’s determination to play for a Mets franchise referred to as “the little brother” to the Bombers was a private offense. In order that they booed and booed and booed.

Even so, the bat in Soto’s hand represented a possibility to silence the noise. The Mets, trailing the Yankees by 4 runs, had runners on second and third with two outs within the ninth in opposition to Yankees nearer Luke Weaver when Soto got here as much as the plate. One swing may’ve lower their deficit to at least one run. Yet another stroll would’ve loaded the bases for Pete Alonso, who then would have represented the tying run.

However, on the second pitch of the at-bat, Weaver acquired Soto to fly out to shallow heart area to ship a Yankees win. Though the booing lastly stopped, Soto wasn’t smiling anymore.

“It is uncomfortable that we could not get the win,” Soto stated. “I do not focus, in any respect, on the followers. We gotta concentrate on the sport and be knowledgeable, attempting to win the sport. Yeah, it sucks that we misplaced the sport. However we now have two extra to win the collection.”

And two extra video games for Yankees followers to let Soto understand how they really feel. Perhaps subsequent time the brand new Mets slugger will let his bat do the speaking.

Deesha Thosar covers Main League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports activities. Comply with her on X at @DeeshaThosar.

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