Aaron Boone Says Juan Soto Is ‘Locked In’, But Not Contractually, Amidst Swirling Free Agency Rumors

It was ironic that while his potential extension rumors were swirling around Juan Soto’s bat wasn’t doing the same. Before this game against the Chicago White Sox, Soto went 4-for-31 in his last 8 games. However, during all of that time, the New York Yankees’ skipper couldn’t stop believing in him. And now Soto has paid off Aaron Boone’s belief with two massive home runs. Suddenly the manager is smiling again and why shouldn’t he? He guessed Soto’s great performance even before it did.

Boone has perhaps seen Soto closer than anyone else this season. From his lofty heights to some unusual lows, the skipper knows what’s going on inside his superstar’s mind. So when Soto stepped up to the plate yesterday, Boone already knew something special was in store. How did he know that? The skipper answered in his postgame conference.

“I felt like last night was a prelude to today. He had three really good swings last night,” Boone referred to Soto’s performances. “On balls where he hit that ball to the fence in left, and to the fence in right, also doubled.” However, what really sent Boone’s senses into overdrive was watching Soto’s conduct right before the game yesterday.

“I could just see his body language, just really locked in today. All the way until the end there,” Boone said. “so just one of those days that Juan is capable of.” Certainly, the superstar looked “locked in” today. Though the Yankees wish that he was similarly “locked in” to a longer contract, they’d be quite pleased to see their Dominican superstar turn things around for himself.

And what turn around it was. Juan Soto dominated in ways only he could and unsurprisingly found himself breaking a few streaks within the Pinstripes.

Juan Soto’s perfect sales pitch to the New York Yankees and others

Though Soto’s silent bat wouldn’t have affected his contract talks, it still helps to be in form. This entire season is his sales pitch and this game proved to be an amazing hook for him. After all, not many hitters can hit 2 homers in one game and have both of them cross the 415 feet mark. In fact, he’s the first left-handed Yankees batter since Brian McCann in 2016 to achieve that record. 

In a single game, Soto raised his average from .301 to .317. More importantly, the superstar now leads the American League with 101 total bases. Every day it becomes more clear why Hal Steinbrenner said, “I think we’d like to see him here for the rest of his career.” And each performance like this is making it clear – it won’t be without a big fight.