SEATTLE — Juan Soto achieved a personal milestone on Tuesday night, hitting a two-run homer in the Yankees’ 11-2 victory over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. This home run marked Soto’s final ballpark in his quest to homer in all 30 current MLB stadiums.
“It’s a great feeling for me; so many different ballparks, so many different dimensions,” Soto said. “I just wanted to check them all off. What a way to head into free agency with all 30 ballparks on my list.”
While Soto’s comments about free agency might raise eyebrows among Yankees fans, the immediate focus is on securing a playoff berth. A win on Wednesday would guarantee the Yankees a return to the postseason after missing out last year. With just 11 regular-season games left, Monday’s victory expanded the Yankees’ lead in the American League East to four games over the Orioles, their biggest advantage since June 6.
Captain Aaron Judge, who drove in four runs on Tuesday and leads the majors with 136 RBIs, emphasized the importance of making the playoffs: “We’re excited, especially after missing out last year. Our goal is to get into the postseason and have a shot at the World Series. But first, we need to get there.”
Soto’s homer was also his 40th of the season, making him and Judge the third pair of Yankees teammates to each hit 40 or more homers in a single season. They join the ranks of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig (1927, 1930, 1931) and Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris (1961).
Judge expressed his admiration for Soto, saying, “Those are baseball legends you’re talking about. To share something like that with Soto, who’s such a special player, is truly enjoyable.”
Soto, who had struggled in Seattle with 17 hitless plate appearances in four games before Tuesday, finally found his rhythm with a first-inning double. He then smashed a 95.9 mph fastball from Bryan Woo over the left-center field wall in the fifth inning.
“That double felt great, and I felt confident about hitting a home run,” Soto said. “It was one of my goals for the season to hit in all 30 ballparks, and I’m glad I could finally check off that last one.”
The homer also marked Soto’s 200th career home run, making him the seventh-youngest player in MLB history to reach this milestone at 25 years and 328 days old. Soto’s 200 homers tie him with Frank Robinson for the seventh-most before turning 26, behind only Jimmie Foxx (222), Eddie Mathews (222), Alex Rodriguez (216), Mel Ott (211), Mickey Mantle (207), and Albert Pujols (200).
Manager Aaron Boone praised Soto’s performance: “You’re always amazed that he’s only 25 and maybe just scratching the surface of his potential. He’s not even in his prime yet. We’re witnessing something really special.”
Since joining the Yankees from the Padres in December, Soto has homered in various ballparks, including Progressive Field, Angel Stadium, Guaranteed Rate Field, Globe Life Field, and now T-Mobile Park.
Soto admitted that while reaching the 30-for-30 milestone was a key goal, he’s now focused on contributing to the Yankees’ playoff push. “It’s one of the goals I set for this year,” he said. “Now, with that side mission accomplished, I’m excited to help the team succeed and celebrate our postseason journey.”
“Our goal is to win the division,” Soto added. “We’re all grinding hard, and it’s going to be a great feeling if we can finish strong.”
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