Juan Soto, the impending free agent who joined the New York Yankees this year, went berserk on the plate in the first half. He lived up to the generational player tag and scored consistently, batting second behind captain Aaron Judge. However, cracks have begun to develop in the paradise.
Since New York Yankees hit a slump in June, Juan Soto’s first half form is nowhere to be found. He is hitting below .200 and as a result, the team’s offense has collapsed to the ground. Naturally questions were bound to be raised and an MLB host suggested that Juan Soto was not a leader but a mere catalyst in Yanks lineup.
Juan Soto Slammed For Recent Skid Contributing To Yankees Losing Streak
While Juan Soto helped the New York Yankees break the floodgates early into the 2024 MLB season, his ride has been derailed as and when the team hit a slump. As the Yanks witnessed a losing streak in June, Soto’s performance also went downhill. He is hitting .194 in the last 10 games, which has raised significant questions about his ability to weather the storm. New York Radio host Chris McMonigle shared his perspective of Soto being a mere catalyst in the Yanks lineup and not the leader the fans envisioned him to be. Chris argued that when the team is hot, Soto is right there, scoring consistently. But when they need him, the host, he is nowhere to be found.
“Now that the urgency is gone and they’re struggling, he’s not helping much during this struggle,” Chris said. Meanwhile, C-Mac advised Juan Soto to pull up the socks and show why he deserves $500 million. It’s his time to sell himself not just to the New York Yankees but also to other suitors who are willing to cash out $500 million for the generational star. Indeed, the 2024 season holds the utmost importance for Soto as he is hitting career-shaping free agency next year. If his camp wishes to lock a $500 million worth deal, its important for Soto to perform and match those standards with staggering offensive numbers. Ultimately, his numbers on the plate will dictate his free agency terms. At this trajectory, Juan Soto will even struggle to match Yankee captain Aaron Judge’s $360 million contractual agreement.
Is Soto Struggling With An Injury?
Meanwhile, one of the many reasons believed to be hampering Juan Soto’s form on the plate is underlying injury concerns. Notably, Soto had issues with his forearm and hand previously, which required him to skip a couple of games. However, he recovered day-to-day with medications and didn’t require an IL stint.
However, Juan Soto seemingly seems uncomfortable with his swing. Fans believe that, perhaps, the generational star is beaten up. However, the New York Yankees haven’t flagged any concerns as of yet. Even Soto affirmed that he is physically fine. However, his form on the plate does not align with his words, and that has caused a wave of uncertainty among the fans.
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