Soto's first 3-HR game has Yanks gawking: 'He's the greatest hitter in the game'

CHICAGO -- Is it possible that the baseball world is underestimating this historic Juan Soto season, one playing out almost as a real-time background piece?

The thought crossed at least a few minds as Soto tracked his drive toward the right-field seats in the seventh inning on Tuesday night, flipping his bat before beginning his third trot of the night in the Yankees’ 4-1 victory over the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Aaron Judge casts a large shadow in the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award race, but even he can’t take his eyes off Soto.

“That’s who he is. That’s why he’s the greatest hitter in the game,” Judge said.

Celebrating the first three-homer game of his illustrious young career, Soto responded by tossing a verbal bouquet toward the Yankees’ captain, saying that Judge’s 42 homers and 107 RBIs make him “the greatest hitter in the world.”

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“Look at his numbers; he’s unbelievable,” Soto said. “He makes my job easier. When you’re hitting in front of a guy like that, you know you’re getting pitches. He’s the greatest one.”

One thing is clear: Soto’s generational talents are indispensable. The Yankees can’t imagine where they’d be without both of their superstars. Though the entire tri-state area is aware of Soto’s pending free agency, no one in uniform is ready to contemplate not seeing these two batting back to back for years to come.

“These guys carry our lineup,” said Nestor Cortes, who tossed seven innings for the win. “Whenever they’re on base, or whenever they’re up to bat, I like my chances.”

Soto drove in all four of the Yankees’ runs, beginning with an opposite-field two-run shot in the third inning off right-hander Jonathan Cannon. Soto hit another homer off Cannon in the fifth, then crushed a solo blast in the seventh facing left-hander Fraser Ellard.

“It means a lot. It’s really fun, definitely,” Soto said. “It’s really cool to see it, and even better to get the win.”

Now with 33 homers and 85 RBIs in 117 games, Soto’s 192 wRC+ is overshadowed by Judge’s remarkable 219 wRC+, the highest by any player in a single season since 2005. But Soto ranks among select company over that time frame, behind Judge’s ‘22 (209), Bryce Harper’s ‘15 (197) and Miguel Cabrera in ‘13 (193) -- all MVP winners.

“I feel like in watching Juan, I’m watching one of the best seasons I’ve ever seen. Then I get to watch Aaron right behind him,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I try not to take it for granted. I just know that is one tough at-bat, every single day.”

The second Yankee this year to have a three-homer game, joining Ben Rice (July 6 vs. Boston), Soto enjoyed his 23rd career multihomer game and his sixth of the year. Having belted two homers against the Rangers two days earlier in New York, Soto’s 23 multihomer games before turning 26 are the second most in Major League history behind Mel Ott (24).

“Holy smokes. Judge and Soto are just the most incredible players you’ll ever see,” said Jake Cousins, who logged his first career save on Tuesday. “We sit down there all the time and every time they hit homers, we’re just like, ‘Man, these guys are so good.’”

There was another personal subplot to Soto’s night. This spring, Soto mentioned that one of his goals was to complete his tour around the Majors by homering in all 30 current ballparks. He needed five then; Guaranteed Rate Field was one of the parks Soto lacked, as well as Cleveland’s Progressive Field and Anaheim’s Angel Stadium.

With those three checked off, Soto now just needs round-trippers at Texas’ Globe Life Field (Sept. 2-4) and Seattle’s T-Mobile Park (Sept. 17-19).

“I was in the tunnel and just heard the screams from our bench,” said Cortes. “I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s a homer.’ It’s impressive -- even not being able to watch them, watching our teammates scream with how impressed they are.”

With a Statcast-calculated 1,182 feet of homers already under his belt, Soto had one more at-bat in the ninth. Just 18 players in Major League history have enjoyed a four-homer game, a rarer feat than a perfect game, of which there have been 24. Lou Gehrig is the only Yankee ever to achieve the feat, on June 3, 1932, vs. the Athletics.

Soto did not know that as he stepped to the plate against right-hander Jared Shuster, but he knew he would try for the fourth homer. Shuster had little interest in playing along; he missed the strike zone with the first three pitches before snapping off an outside slider that Soto swung for the downs on, grinning as the pitch eluded his bat.

Shuster’s next pitch was an inside changeup that forced Soto to dart away, taking his free base as the crowd booed on Soto’s behalf, denied a fair shake to see history. But if we zoom out on Soto’s full season, there are many reasons to applaud what he is achieving -- and, chances are, what he will for many years to come.

“Look, we went and got him and paid a big price to bring him here, because we know what a special player he is,” Boone said. “We’ve seen every bit of that, and probably more.”