WATCH: Juan Soto makes INCREDIBLE game-saving throw in 9th inning during NY Yankees debut
Juan Soto played a crucial role in his official debut for the New York Yankees
Juan Soto made an incredible game-saving throw (Image via Imago/X)
The Juan Soto era at the New York Yankees kicked off just as everyone associated with the team were hoping for. The three-time All-Star made an instant impact in his debut and showed off his great fielding abilities with a game-saving throw in the 9th inning to lead the Yankees to a comeback Opening Day victory.
After the end of the season last year, speculations started to grow whether Juan Soto was on the move in the offseason. This came true when he was traded by the San Diego Padres in December and arrived at the Bronx.
The New York Yankees who did not have a memorable campaign last time out, kicked off their season with a trip to Houston to face the Houston Astros. In recent years, the Astros have been one of the team that have had the upper hand against them and handed them some big losses.
In this game it seemed the Astros would once again be the dominant force in the matchup between this two as the raced to a 4-0 lead. Soto would however, kick start the comeback with an important base hit in the fifth inning to put his side on the board. This led to the Yankees turning things around later on and taking a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the ninth.
With the tying and game winning run on the base, Kyle Tucker‘s would line up a hit in the left field. Soto would chase it down and would deliver a cannon throw to catcher Jose Trevino to tag out the runner Mauricio Dubon at home plate to reserve their lead.
After the out, Soto was seen getting pumped by his play. A video later showed him and Aaron Judge pointing out to their muscles while enjoying the moment.
Juan Soto opens about game-saving throw in Yankees debut
The eyes of the MLB world on Thursday were fixated on Juan Soto as he took to the field for his Yankees debut. The 25-year-old lived up to the expectation and delivered a crucial performance in the very first game of the season. He would later open up about this game-saving throw.
Juan Soto (Image via Imago)
When asked by Meredith Marakovits of YES Network whether he had any doubt of getting Mauricio Dubon at the plate in the ninth inning, the former Padres star shaked his head and said, “Not at all“.
When I got the ball I know where he (Dubon) where and I just try to make sure I throw the perfect play and let Trevy (Trevino) do what he can do... He's a Platinum Glove. You can throw anywhere, he will do the thing.
Juan Soto on his game-saving throw via YES Network.
Yankees captain Aaron Judge would later praise the efforts of him and said, “That was a Yankee classic“. Soto’s first game in the Yankee pinstripes will certainly go down in history as one of the most memorable ones.
