JUST IN: Yankees’ Juan Soto gives injury update after heartbreaking loss
The New York Yankees fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 in an 11-inning epic Friday night. It was their first game of the season without superstar Juan Soto, who has been a hero for the team thus far.
Soto, who’s day-to-day with left forearm inflammation, shared his thoughts on how he’s feeling after the game, via YES Network.
“I’m taking it day by day and following the advice of our medical staff,” Soto said. “It’s frustrating to sit out, especially in a game like tonight, but I’m optimistic about returning soon. My focus is on getting healthy and being ready to help the team as soon as possible.”
“It was what I was looking for,” Soto said about his MRI results. “Just trying to see what was really going on with my elbow. We were thinking a little bit about how it was going to be like, and thank god it came back that way.”
The three-time All-Star was pulled out during a rain delay against the Minnesota Twins Thursday night after feeling soreness. He sat in uniform on the bench Friday, looking eager to take the field. Although the injury isn’t serious, New York will still be cautious with their newest box-office attraction.
“It’s a relief,” Soto continued. “It was a tough spot where my elbow was kind of right there, but now I feel good.”
Juan Soto meets with the media and discusses how he's feeling, watching the game from the bench, when he will be back on the field, and more. pic.twitter.com/gdxZzyYvT9
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 8, 2024
When asked if he had an estimated return date, he said, “We’ll see for the next couple days how I feel. We’re gonna do day by day.”
It doesn’t seem as if the former Washington National will be out long, though, as he pushed to play in Friday’s game.
“Definitely,” Soto added. “It’s tough to see the game from the bench, I don’t like that. I try my best to be out there and help the team.”
For now, it appears that New York has dodged a massive bullet. With Soto out for the next few games, the team has an opportunity to learn about its depth and resilience. Players who might not usually get the spotlight will have a chance to step up and contribute, potentially revealing strengths and areas for improvement within the roster. This period could also test the Yankees’ ability to adapt their strategies and maintain their competitive edge without their superstar.
This mini stretch will test the Yankees’ hitting depth
Yankees fans might have been reminded of some of the team’s rough stretches from 2023 on Friday night. The team often relied too heavily on Aaron Judge offensively, leading to their first missed playoffs since 2016.
Without Juan Soto in the lineup, New York struggled at the plate. The team didn’t score until Judge hit an RBI single in the 11th inning, but it was too little, too late. The Yankees ended the game with just one run on five hits.
It’s a long season, and one poor performance against top-flight hurler Yoshinobu Yamamoto doesn’t necessarily spell disaster. However, Yankees fans would feel more at ease if the team hit well without Soto over the next few games.
Veterans like Anthony Rizzo (.228 batting average), Gleyber Torres (.229), and D.J. LeMahieu (.154) will face added pressure to break out of their slumps. They went a combined 0-for-12 with three strikeouts on Friday, which is unsustainable for long-term success.
Despite these offensive struggles, New York’s pitching remains elite, which could sustain the team even when the bats falter. Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised third-year starter Cody Poteet, who held Los Angeles scoreless over 4.2 innings, as reported by SNY.
“He did everything he needed to do,” Boone stated simply.
Now, New York needs its hitters to follow suit and step up in Soto’s absence.