Soto raves about electric playoff atmosphere at Yankee Stadium

NEW YORK – From the first day Juan Soto set foot in the Yankee Stadium outfield, dressed neck to ankles in pinstripes, the season has become an absolute lovefest for the celebrated slugger. His every line drive, throw or shuffle has prompted cheers from a crowd that simultaneously adores his presence and hopes to convince him to return for an encore.

It came as no surprise, then, that Soto continued to delight in his Yankees playoff debut. Soto collected three hits and picked up an outfield assist in the Yankees’ 6-5 victory over the Royals in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday evening, then gushed about a sellout crowd in the Bronx that he felt was “electric.”

“It was really cool, really fun,” Soto said. “I think the fans showed up [Saturday], and it was really, really exciting.”

Soto heard among the loudest ovations from a crowd of 48,790 during pre-game introductions, including from one fan in the front row of the right-field seats who waved an oversized blank check in the 25-year-old’s direction.

While Soto’s blockbuster free agency will present a daily topic for pundits to tackle during the winter -- will the asking price be $500 million? $600 million? -- he said that the coming payday is not on his mind.

“Right now, we’re focused on the playoffs,” Soto said. “We’re talking about trying to get another championship, to go out there and do our best to bring another championship to New York.”

In the first inning, Soto flared a double to left field, setting the Yankees up with a two-on, none-out opportunity they failed to capitalize on. He saved a run for Gerrit Cole in the second inning, making a strong throw home on an MJ Melendez single to cut down Salvador Perez attempting to score from second base.

After a groundout in the third inning, Soto stroked a fifth-inning single that helped stock the bases for a pair of run-scoring walks later in the frame. He added a sixth-inning single, becoming the 10th player in franchise history to record three hits in their first postseason game with the Yankees (last achieved by DJ LeMahieu in the 2019 ALDS).

“When he goes up there, it doesn’t matter who is pitching for the other team,” said catcher Austin Wells. “He’s going to get on base, and if he doesn’t, he’s going to be a tough out. He really wears out pitching staffs. I’m glad he’s on our team.”

Soto said that his relationship with the fans, especially those behind him in right field, has been everything he anticipated.

“I was expecting the best, and that’s what they’ve been giving me all year long,” Soto said. “It’s really fun to be playing for those fans. They’ve been there day in, day out, every out, every inning. It’s just been incredible.”

Wax on, wax off

Oswaldo Cabrera is still enough of a neophyte at first base that he has not ordered his own glove, carrying a LeMahieu model to the position for Friday’s ALDS Game 1. Yet he has one of the league’s best tutors in Anthony Rizzo, who has been helping all of the club’s fill-in first basemen this season.

“We are like the students and he’s like our Mr. Miyagi,” Cabrera said, referencing the 1984 action movie The Karate Kid. “He’s the guy that is over there, just teaching us, trying to give us advice and different situations that can happen during the game.”

Cabrera’s Game 1 start at first base marked his 18th career game at the position, and his first in the playoffs. Yankees manager Aaron Boone has said that Ben Rice and Jon Berti are also being considered for starts at first base. Rizzo is sidelined with two broken fingers on his right hand but hopes to return for a potential AL Championship Series.

“I just try to be ready for the moments that they need me,” Cabrera said. “Right now, I can be on first, but at any moment I can go to play second [base], shortstop, third [base], left field, right field, whatever. I just want to be ready.”

Said Boone: “That’s what the good utility players do. The really good ones like Oswaldo are able to do that. You can sit over there for a week and not get any action. You’ve got to be ready. He’s just a really good pro.”

A new beginning

Carlos Rodón authored a strong turnaround in his second season with the Yankees, becoming more unpredictable by mixing in other pitches to complement his fastball/slider combination while maintaining his health and making a career-high 32 starts.

It was all done with this month in mind, as Rodón will see his 16-9 record and 3.96 ERA reset with the first pitch of Monday’s ALDS Game 2.

“Last year was rough, as we all know,” Rodón said. “I did not perform the way I should have. I wanted to be better for my teammates. Going into this offseason, we got to work, put our noses to the grindstone, and got after it.

“The biggest thing was to go out there and make every start. I did that. Now, this season is over. We’ve got a new season, it’s the postseason, and that’s what matters now.”