"This guy is still growing" - Aaron Boone speaks on Juan Soto setting career high in home runs with Yankees
The Yankees continue to reap the success out of the Juan Soto offseason trade. In another stellar performance, the Dominican hit 5 RBIs to lead his team to a thumping 8-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians, which received recognition from manager Aaron Boone.
Juan Soto hit his career-high 36th home run of the season in the first inning. His two-run homer was 427 feet blast to center field on his very first pitch that also plated Gleyber Torres. But he wasn't done for the day as returning in the bottom of the fourth inning, Soto hit a bases-clearing double to cap off a 5-RBIs night.
The 25-year-old is on track for 46 home runs and 119 RBIs (which will also be a career high) for the year with 35 games left in the regular season. Manager Aaron Boone praised his efforts and believes Soto isn't chasing personal landmarks but instead just looking to have good at-bats every time he goes to home plate.
"This guy is still growing and developing. It doesn’t hurt having Aaron behind him but this is just a byproduct of how great of a hitter he is. He’s not focused on hitting a certain number of home runs, you see a guy that’s obsessed with having a good at-bat and he lives that every day," Boone said.
Juan Soto and Aaron Judge continue to compliment each other's game
Wednesday's clash was the 11th time this season that both Juan Soto and Aaron Judge hit a home run in the same game. Their combination worked to drive in all of the Yankees' eight runs during the game. The iconic duo have now the likes of Babe Ruth-Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle-Roger Maris as only the third pair in New York's history to hit 36 home runs each in the first 127 games.
After the game, Judge complimented Soto's work ethic and stated it was 'fun' to watch him bat.
"It’s fun. We’re lucky to have him, and we gotta keep pushing to the end here," Judge said.
The Bronx Bombers head into the final game against the Guardians with the series on the line. They hold a slender 0.5-game lead over the Orioles in the AL East standings.