It is that time of the year. As the New York Yankees fans, witness the exciting spring training underway, they nearly had a heart attack. A second time. Well, the period meant for shaking off the winter rust and getting game-ready, bore a moment that almost made folks lose their minds. The culprit? Juan Soto.
It is no secret what a big deal the All-Star slugger’s acquisition has been for the Yankees. This is why, every time Soto steps onto the field, the entire Yankees troop holds their breath. Remember the good ol’ days when the big concern was Aaron Judge’s slightly sore calf? Those were simpler times. Now, for Soto, with great power, has come great responsibility. The responsibility of staying healthy.
“Please-Don’t-Be-Aaron-Rodgers” Moments
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First off, everyone gasped at the awkward swing, fearing that the Aaron Rodgers drama would repeat. Then, soon after, came one of the most uncalled-for risks in the doomed recent history of baseball’s spring training – a diving play for a blooper landing on his wrist!
Chill out Juan pic.twitter.com/fgvZcUfrzH
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) February 26, 2024
Thankfully, the 3x All Star seems healthy after both incidents. However, for Yankees fans, these ‘hold-your-breath’ moments are becoming quite frequent. This calls for highlighting a statement mentioned in a Yanks Go Yard article – “Watching every spring training game through gritted teeth hoping your players don’t get injured is no way to go through life.”
Rightly so, because there is no back up! Well, the Yankees have depth in most areas. Sure, if a pitcher goes down, they have options. But if Soto gets hurt, especially due to a “silly stunt” there’s no replacing his impact. Maybe it’s good to remember that the pressure is immense, not just for to perform, but also to stay healthy.
Read More : Everything To Know About Juan Soto’s Off-Field ‘Dominoes’ Obsession
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The Yankees are at a stage right now where a major injury would not only dampen their World Series aspirations but also leave them with an uncertain future.
A Leap of Faith (and Fear)
It is not a secret that every twist, turn, and sprint Soto makes the Yankees fans and related folks anxious. He is precious and more so now because Soto’s acquisition is perhaps one of the biggest moves the Yanks have made in order to pivot from their disappointing performances in the recent past. There is a constant fear that their ‘best move in years’ could turn into a worst-case scenario with just one wrong move or awkward swing.
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With that, there is enough reason to just fast forward to Opening Day, already. While one hopes for the Yankees to use this spring training for confident preparation, it must not happen at the cost of a player’s health. With that, is also important to not have any bouts of panic to top up the already existent pressure.
Read More: What Is Juan Soto’s Net Worth?