By Joiner Martinez
Sep 19, 2024, 11:55 PM EDT
The New York Yankees got a big scare after star outfielder Juan Soto hurt his left knee while sliding into the wall in foul territory on a spectacular catch.
Nearly every member of the Yankees defense huddled around the Dominican superstar, waiting for him to get up. Soto cautiously stood up, bending his left knee, and then told manager Aaron Boone he could continue in the game.
From a distance, you could feel an entire city exhaling cautiously, despite the Yankees’ 3-2 loss to the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
“I was really worried,” Soto said. “I fell straight to the concrete and when I threw the ball, I felt a lot of pain in my kneecap. Definitely, over time, [el dolor] started to slow down and feel better. It was definitely a little scary at the time.”
Boone said Soto “hit his knee pretty hard” and will get X-rays “just to be safe.”
The play was initially ruled a foul ball due to possible fan interference, but was reversed to a catch on replay.
“I think sliding like that helped him,” Boone said. “My biggest fear was that he would sprain something, and I think sliding like that prevented that a little bit.”
“So far it looks like it will be okay.”
Soto, 26, 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, is hitting .286 this season with 40 homers, 120 runs scored and 103 RBIs.
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