The New York Yankees have endured numerous injury setbacks throughout the 2024 MLB season, but the fortunes have been kind when it comes to their two most important offensive stars—Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. Between them, they’ve been the heartbeat of the Yankees’ lineup, with Judge appearing in 153 of the team’s 155 games, and Soto in 151.
However, Soto provided a scare during Thursday’s game against the Seattle Mariners when he made a sliding catch that sent him crashing knee-first into the outfield wall at T-Mobile Park. The outfielder’s knee swelled up overnight, sparking fears of a serious injury.
Soto Misses Game, Returns to Deliver Game-Winning Hit
Despite initial concerns, Soto was able to pinch-hit in Friday’s game against the Oakland Athletics, delivering a clutch, game-winning double in extra innings. He returned to the starting lineup on Saturday, going 2-for-6 with two runs scored, though he admitted the knee wasn’t fully healed.
“That was encouraging,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, as reported by The New York Post. “Obviously a little scare when he goes into the wall like that and then having to be scratched [Friday] night before putting his cape on and coming in and doing his thing. But I thought he moved pretty well tonight, so that was really encouraging.”
X-rays showed no significant damage to Soto’s knee, which was a massive relief for a Yankees team that has relied heavily on the 2-3 punch of Soto and Judge. Soto’s bat has been a crucial part of the lineup, posting a .288 average, a .418 on-base percentage, and a .575 slugging percentage this season. He’s hit 40 home runs, driven in 104 runs, and scored 122, accounting for 24% of the team’s runs this year.
#Yankees Juan Soto hurt his knee making a great catch in yesterday’s game
With a 4 game lead on the division and 10 games away from playoffs maybe let that one go
But I get it. That doesn’t go through a player’s head in the moment. pic.twitter.com/viD1pVg7wz
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) September 20, 2024
Yankees’ Lineup Heavily Dependent on Judge-Soto Duo
Beyond Soto and Judge, the Yankees’ offensive struggles have been apparent. New infielder Jazz Chisholm has hit .275, but no other regular has performed as well at the plate. Second baseman Gleyber Torres is the team’s fourth-best hitter, batting just .253. Soto’s ability to consistently get on base, ranking second in the league behind Judge in on-base percentage and walks, has been vital to keeping the Yankees’ offense afloat.
Soto Eyes Playoff Push and Looming Free Agency
While the knee injury was a temporary scare, Soto is mindful of the bigger picture. With free agency looming, he’s expected to land a massive contract potentially north of $500 million, trailing only Shohei Ohtani. Soto’s health is critical not only for the Yankees’ postseason hopes but also for his own long-term future.
“At that moment, I was literally just thinking about my health,” Soto told *MLB.com*. “I know everybody wants me to be healthy in the playoffs. Definitely, I was thinking about my health more than anything else.”
With the playoffs just around the corner and the Yankees maintaining a four-game lead in their division, Soto’s continued presence in the lineup is pivotal for their championship aspirations. Though the knee injury provided a brief moment of doubt, Soto has once again proven his resilience—and just in time for the most important part of the season.
