Juan Soto approached manager Aaron Boone during the game to say that his sore left knee felt good enough for him to step in for an at-bat if needed.
That opportunity came in the 10th inning, when Soto hit an RBI double, leading the New York Yankees to a 4-2 win over the Oakland Athletics.
“It was fantastic—like a showman,” said starting pitcher Gerrit Cole. “He thrives in those moments. He loves it.”
Soto was initially removed from the starting lineup due to swelling and pain in his knee, which he injured while sliding into a concrete wall to make a catch in Seattle.
After X-rays revealed no serious injury, he received treatment and practiced in the batting cage, doing squats to prepare his knee.
“It responded well,” Soto said. “So during the game, I felt good. It wasn’t sore at all after all the work we put in. That’s when I knew I had a good chance to be an option.
When the 10th inning began, Boone was initially hesitant to use Soto, concerned that the Athletics might intentionally walk him with a runner on second base. However, after Anthony Rizzo got a single, placing runners on the corners, Boone decided to take the risk.
“Once we had first and third, I wanted to go for it,” he said.
A passed ball by Shea Langeliers allowed the go-ahead run to score, and Soto then hit a ball to the opposite field for an RBI double, giving the Yankees a 3-1 lead.
This moment concluded a day that started with concern, which eased only after Soto’s X-ray results came back negative.
“It’s always nerve-wracking,” Soto said. “That’s just part of it. We definitely hoped for the best, but anything can happen. When I found out it was negative, it was a huge relief.”
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