"We can't lean on only him" - Juan Soto backs Yankees captain Aaron Judge amid postseason slump, calls for "team effort" in World Series pursuit
New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge drove in a run for the Bronx Bombers in a 5-2 win against the Cleveland Guardians in ALCS Game 1 on Monday. But the AL MVP contender has been far from himself in the postseason.
Judge's postseason slump is not new, but after a booming regular season with 58 home runs, the one-time AL MVP was expected to lead the Yankees offense in October this year.
However, the All-Star slugger is 2-15 in five postseason games with just two hits and one RBI. Despite his lowly return, Yankees teammate Juan Soto backed the captain during his rough patch:
"I don't think he has any pressure. Some days you can't find the hole. I think he's gonna be fine. It's a team effort at the end of the day. It's gonna take every single guy in that lineup. We can't lean on only him"
The Yankees are in pursuit of a first World Series run since 2009 and they will need more than just Aaron Judge to clinch their first title in 15 years. Thankfully, Giancarlo Stanton is continuing his stellar postseason form to make up for Judge's slump.
Juan Soto registers first postseason home run for Yankees
Ever since his arrival in the Bronx in the offseason, Juan Soto has been a bundle of energy for the Yankees. After a sluggish first four postseason games for the Yankees, Soto went deep for a solo home run on Monday, his first in October in the pinstripes.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone wasn't surprised by Soto leading a three-run rally in the third inning of a 5-2 win.
“It doesn’t surprise you,”Aaron Boone said. “It’s what he’s done all year. It’s the kind of player he is. This is who he is.”
The four-time All-Star is no stranger to postseason baseball as a 21-year-old Juan Soto was at the heart of the Washington Nationals' World Series triumph in 2019.
While Soto missed out on the World Series MVP title, he claimed the Babe Ruth Award for his stellar postseason performance. Yankees fans would hope Monday's home run was first of many for Soto in his playoffs journey.