A day after securing their place in the playoffs, the New York Yankees suffered a huge shock on Thursday when star outfielder Juan Soto hit his left knee during a spectacular catch when he slid into the short wall in foul territory.
Soto slid into the wall in foul territory down the right field line in the seventh inning of a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners. After a lengthy visit from Yankees manager Aaron Boone, athletic trainers and seemingly every one of his teammates, Soto stayed in the game and shook out his left leg.
“I was really worried,” Soto said. “I fell right on the concrete and when I threw the ball I felt a lot of pain in my kneecap. As time went on, the pain definitely subsided and I felt better. It was definitely a little scary.”
Boone said Soto had injured his knee pretty badly and would get an X-ray “just to be safe.”
The play was initially ruled a foul ball, but on replay it was ruled a catch.
“I think his slide did him good,” Boone said. “My biggest fear was that he twisted something, and I think that slide protected him a little bit.”
“… At the moment it looks like he’s doing well.”
The 26-year-old Soto, a four-time All-Star and former batting champion whose free agency after this season is expected to spark a bidding war starting at $500 million, has a .286 batting average this season with 40 home runs, 120 runs scored and 103 RBIs.
The defeat reduced the Yankees’ lead in the American League East to four games over the Baltimore Orioles.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
