"Look at his numbers" - Juan Soto downplays Aaron Judge's 'greatest hitter' compliment after multi-homer game for Yankees
New York Yankees slugger Juan Soto was a man possessed during his team's second game of the series against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Dominican achieved a remarkable feat, going long three times to register the first three-homer game of his MLB career.
Juan Soto's four RBI game helped the Yankees bounce back after a disappointing blowout loss in the series opener. Following the 4-1 win, Yankees captain Aaron Judge hailed his teammate as the greatest hitter in baseball right now.
"That's who he is. That's why he is the greatest hitter in the game," Judge said.
However, Juan Soto was flattered by the Yankees captain's comments and hailed Judge as the best hitter in the game instead.
"I call him the greatest hitter in the world," Soto said when asked about Judge's compliment.
"Look at his numbers. He's just unbelievable. He makes my job easier. He makes my plate appearances better because when you know you are hitting in front of that guy, you are going to get pitches."
While Judge is leading the charts for home runs, with 42 dingers, this season, his teammate Soto is not too far behind. Soto is fifth with 33 homers in his first season with the Yankees after being traded from the San Diego Padres in the offseason.
Aaron Judge was surprised by Juan Soto's multi-homer performance
Juan Soto didn't have the best start to the game, as he went back to the dugout following a ground out in his first at-bat against White Sox starter Jonathan Cannon.
Judge witnessed Soto taking dry swings in the dugout after he failed in the first inning and followed it up with two home runs against Cannon. The Yankees captain joked with the 25-year-old slugger after his second homer.
"I was kind of joking with him. ...'That’s all it takes, a couple dry swings, and you hit a couple homers?' '' said Judge. "And he did it a third time.''
Soto is expected to test free agency at the end of the season. With the form he's showing with the Bronx Bombers, the Yankees faithful will hope that the team can tie him for the long haul.