“Personality Matters” Stephen A. Smith Bold Statement Might Spark Controversy Over Aaron Judge, Juan Soto’s Comparison

Playing for the Yankees, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge have always been a formidable duo. Smashing 38 home runs in just 126 games, their contribution towards the New York side’s success has been commendable. Asking a fan to choose between the two? Most Yankees fanatics would hesitate. However, Stephen A. Smith, an NBA analyst who’s known for his eye-opening takes, had bold claims that could rattle the fanbase. 

It’s nothing new for Stephen A. to land in a pothole of controversies. Expressing his frustration over Mike Trout’s injury, Angels fans gave back to him. This time, he compared the two-star players of the Yankees, a topic that’s quite sensitive. Speaking on ESPN’s First Take, he started with,“ Personality Matters. See, Judge is just mild maded, good guy, smacking home runs out of the park like the quiet giant for crying out loud.”

On the contrary for Soto, he said,” Soto is a different kind of personality. He galvanizes a little bit better, and that’s what the Yankees need.” Clearly, from the remarks of Stephen A. Smith, although he likes Aaron Judge’s hitting capabilities, he still thinks Juan Soto brings a different aura to the field. Adding some weight to his talk, Juan Soto is set to become a free agent after the 2024 season. His agent, Scott Boras, has kept his base price at $500 million! Judge signed the 9-year Yankees deal at $360 million, far less than Soto. 

Although that doesn’t define Soto as a better player than Judge, it solely means he is something special. As stated by Boras, Soto is “A Centurion” one of those who has the potential to be named in the top 100 MLB players of all time.

How special has Juan Soto been for the Yankees?

Despite Aaron Judge being the pillar for the Yankees over the years, Juan Soto has just excelled in his performance. Donning the Yankees T-shirt and playing his first season for the team, he smashed at .322, hitting 17 homers, 54 RBI, and achieved four stolen bases.  Additionally, he has an impressive OPS of 1.023 and is on the road towards yet another All-Star Game appearance.

After suffering from a left forearm inflammation against the Minnesota Twins, he even made his comeback against the Royals. It was no surprise that he propelled the Yankees to win 4-2 over the Royals, showcasing his hitting capability. He scored a 1-for-3, ensuring they crossed the line. If that’s not all, JS is hitting .318/.424/.603/1.027 in his last 64 games played for the Yankees. Facing pitchers, he has daunted almost every opponent. Just in a matter of seconds, if a pitcher misses the mark, he’s capable enough to land those balls out of the park. 

There’s no denying that Aaron Judge has been the savior for the Yankees. But Soto, being six years younger than Judge, has achieved nothing short. For a 25-year-old, a staggering $500 million-plus deal hovering is the epitome of the greatness Juan Soto has achieved.