Players in every sport give great importance to their jersey numbers. It not only represents their identity but motivates them to prove themselves worthy of their uniform. And what team is better than the New York Yankees to leave a legacy? Now that Juan Soto has officially joined the Bronx squad, one question arises- Will he get the number he has always had or will it change?

Even though Soto is a massive star, there is no denying that the Yankees are in a different stratosphere regarding stature and history. Now if that pressure wasn’t enough, the 25-year-old has picked a number that has an incredible list of legends behind it. So what is the number and how will he live up to the lofty expectations that will come up because of it?

Juan Soto finally has a jersey number in the New York Yankees

The Childish Bambino has been wearing the number “22” on his jersey since his debut with the Washington Nationals in 2018. When he was traded to the San Diego Padres, he requested relief pitcher Nick Martinez to permit him to use the number. Per the San Diego Tribune, the Dominican gifted him a Rolex watch in exchange. So it’s no surprise that Soto has chosen 22 in Pinstripes as well.

As Bryan Hoch reported, Soto logged into Zoom for a recent presser with his name as “22”, which more or less confirms things. Unlike the Padres, things were much simpler in the Bronx regarding that number. Harrison Bader wore the jersey in 2022 and 2023 but was waived off to Cincinnati last year. Since the number had no wearer when Soto entered, the transition was easier.

But that doesn’t mean the number doesn’t come with added pressure. The number “22” is associated with Bronx legends like Roger Clemens, Marcus Russo, Allie Reynolds, Jimmy Key, and Robinson Cano. All of them were All-Stars and Soto will look to carry that legacy forward for at least a year. And that’s an important point as the real challenge starts now.

Read more: “Who to Talk To..”: Juan Soto Opens up on Possible Yankees Contract Extension

The Yankees want Soto to sign an extension. All Soto wants is championships.

The Childish Bambino has only one goal

ESPN reported that Juan Soto maintained silence about his contract situation saying, “They know where to call and who to talk to, I’m here just to play baseball.” Soto then revealed that his agent Scott Boras focuses on these things while he chooses to focus on playing.

“My mindset is to come here to play baseball and try to win a championship,” Soto said. Making it clear that he prefers to focus on his on-field performances instead of his off-field situations. Who knows what 2024 will bring?

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