Juan Soto matches rare feat last achieved by Joey Votto amid MVP-worthy season
Dominican Republic outfielder Juan Soto achieved yet another feat in his MVP-worthy season with the Yankees. Soto matched a rare feat in the second game of the three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium.
His home run and five RBI propelled the Bombers to an 8-1 victory against Cleveland Guardians and leveled the series at 1-1. Cincinnati Reds star Joey Votto was the most recent ballplayer to have successfully achieved this feat.
His latest home run on Wednesday night meant the lefty slugger had now smashed a home run in eight straight hits.
"Juan Soto is the first Yankees player in the Expansion Era (1961) to have a home run in 8 straight hits. Last MLB player: Joey Votto (8 straight), 7/24-7/29/2021"
Soto started his career in professional baseball after the Washington Nationals signed him as an international free agent in 2015. Juan was promoted to the Nationals 40-man roster on May 20, 2018, thereby becoming the youngest ever player to play in the MLB. He spent five seasons in Washington, winning a World Series in 2019.
In 2022, the Nationals traded Juan Soto and Josh Bell to the Padres for young shortstop C.J. Abrams. He spent 1.5 years on the West Coast before he was traded yet again to the Yankees alongside Trent Grisham. In exchange, the Padres received six top Yankees prospects during the 2023 offseason.
Since arriving in the Bronx on a one-year, $31 million contract, Soto has breathed fresh life into a lackluster Yankees unit that struggled to even earn a wildcard spot last season. He has been extremely calculative and strategic with his at-bats, and he has also flourished in the outfield for the Bronx Bombers.
Juan Soto is producing MVP-worthy stats in his maiden big league season with the Yankees
The 25-year-old Dominican lefty slugger has excelled in the Bombers offensive lineup. He has played an amazing second fiddle to Aaron Judge on the offensive end, as the Yanks currently sit atop the AL East division with a 74-53 record.
Juan Soto averages .302, with 36 home runs, 93 RBIs, and 1.045 OPS this season.