Fans of the New York Yankees want Juan Soto to stay part of the franchise for the rest of his career. Last offseason, he was the biggest addition to the NY side. Soto’s addition to the roster made the 27-time World Series champions really strong in their offense. Moreover, he formed a lethal offensive duo with the team’s captain, Aaron Judge that’s raising the hopes of a World Series contention for the fans in the Bronx. It has been a long time for the NY side that they made it to the World Series.
The last time they did was in 2009, and they had won it then. Now, can the Judge-Soto duo help the Yankees win their 28th “Big Dance?” But an even more important question that fans wonder is if the Dominican slugger will sign a long-term contract with the Pinstripes next offseason. Anyhow, Kevin Long, the former hitting coach of the 2020 NL Batting Champion feels deciding to leave San Diego and joining the NY side was a good move.
Phillies Hitting Coach Says “Yankees Are A Good Fit For Juan Soto”
In the past, Kevin Long has been the hitting coach of the Washington Nationals and also of the New York Yankees. During his time with the Nationals between 2018 and 2021, the hitting coach saw the growth of Juan Soto in the major league. Those four years were the early phase of the Dominican slugger in the MLB. Very few people can know Soto’s approach to the plate and his personality better than Kevin Long. At present, he is in his third year with the Philadelphia Phillies. Lately, there was a reunion between Soto and his first hitting coach in the major league when the Yankees enjoyed a clean sweep against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Recently, Dan Martin of the New York Post quoted Juan Soto, saying, “Long is one of the guys that stayed connected with me since the beginning.”
The Dominican slugger credited Long for teaching him not just how to hit but also how to play in the big league. He added, “Long’s a big part of my career.” Later, Kevin Long said that he thinks Juan Soto needed a change of scenery when he was with the San Diego Padres. From that stage to this day, Long feels, “Yankees were a good fit for him.” In San Diego, the Phillies hitting coach feels it could have gone sideways for Soto. It was harder for the slugger, and Long feels, “He wasn’t how I remember.” But now, Long says he can tell the difference as Soto seems to be at ease. Moreover, the hitting coach said Soto is comfortable where he is at present.
Kevin Long Says Winning Makes All The Difference
Why did Soto want to leave the Nationals at the end? Kevin Long explained that it is because he knows how to win games and World Series. Juan Soto won the World Series with the Nationals in 2019. But the Phillies coach said, “Since winning was so much fun, it got tough for Juan at the end because we just lost the chance to win there.” Long believes it is tough for any player of Soto’s calibre because he is there not just to put up good numbers but also to build relationships with his teammates and win the “Big Dance.”
With the Yankees, “He would like to do that again.” Anyway, the former Yankees hitting coach feels there is always a good chance to win after “Going to the Bronx.” Hence, Long does not feel surprised seeing what Soto’s been doing in the Bronx so far. The hitting coach said, “He has always been a big-stage kind of a player. I’m just really proud to see how Soto has handled himself there.”
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