Last year everyone saw the sheer frenzy that accompanied Aaron Judge’s no.99 basketball jersey last year. The New York Yankees fans raced against one other to get their hands on that rare piece of merchandise. As a result, the Bronx Bombers decided to make it a tradition and once again decided to give away basketball jerseys to their fans yesterday. Only this time, the color was different and the number was Juan Soto’s 22.

Juan Soto and the Yankee Nation have taken to each other like fish takes to water. From their continuous roll calls to Soto’s constant interactions, the relationship between the two has been deepening every day. Another piece of evidence of that love came yesterday when The Bronx area and the entire Yankee Stadium witnessed a huge line of fans waiting to hold that elusive jersey in their hands. 

The New York Yankees had announced that only the first 18,000 guests would get the Soto jersey. Now one can imagine the kind of urgency that the fans must’ve had. Multiple videos were released of the giveaway site and it was absurd just how big the lines went. Fans were willing to wait for hours for that No. 22 jersey.

And that was enough to make the rest of the Yankee Nation declare that Juan Soto wasn’t going anywhere. The kind of love and euphoria that he enjoys in the Bronx Bombers made the fans come to this conclusion. While it is still difficult to fully support their claim (his free agency is still looming large), one can’t deny the special connection between Juan Soto and the New York Yankees. 

Will there be any other giveaway? Yes, there are but perhaps none would be as anticipated as this except the George Costanza bobblehead and Soto’s other giveaways.  But until then, the fans’ reactions showed how big the Soto connection is. 

The New York Yankees fans continue to be in awe of Juan Soto

Rarely do fans shower a player with so much love almost immediately after his arrival. However, Juan Soto’s unreal on-field performances have turned the entire Bronx region into his fans. Just how deep does their possessiveness go? Their reaction shows it quite well. “He’s not f***ing leaving,” a fan declared. Despite Hal Steinbrenner’s comments and Scott Boras’ track record, the Yankees fans cannot stop believing. They know that even if it costs more than $500 million, the Pinstripes need to go all in on the Dominican Slugger. 

“I kid you not, people were SPRINTING from the train station towards the stadium when I got here just now,” another fan narrated his experience. It’s obvious that the fans would rush to the stadium. The 18,000 limit turned that basketball jersey into a collector’s item. More importantly, with Juan Soto’s future still uncertain – this might have been the only chance the fans get of getting his Yankees basketball jersey.

“I want one SO BAD,” a fan echoed the sentiments of the entire Yankee Nation. Who wouldn’t want to get Juan Soto’s jersey? The Childish Bambino has completely transformed the Yankees. His on-field performances coupled with his off-field chemistry have made him an extremely popular figure in all of the Yankees.

“This info will help me plan for the giveaway on Aug 9,” noted a fan. The Yankees have scheduled the Juan Soto figurine giveaway on August 9 for the first 18,000 fans. With his jersey getting such a response one wonders just how big the crowd will be for his figurine. Apart from this on August 30 there’ll be Aaron Judge’s Hockey jersey giveaway. 

“I doubt Hal is gonna let him go, merchandise for him must be through the roof,” a fan said. Apart from Aaron Judge, Juan Soto is perhaps the biggest name in the Yankees squad today. The 25-year-old is one of the faces of MLB, so it isn’t surprising if he brings huge monetary benefit to the team. Will Hal Steinbrenner successfully keep Soto in the team? Or will Soto leave? That’s up for debate.