Juan Soto, the perfect match for Judge and Stanton

Juan Soto was the missing piece that completed the New York Yankees’ rebuilding efforts, transforming them from a disappointing team that missed the postseason last year to a contender returning to the Major League Baseball World Series.

Soto also pushed Aaron Judge to improve on his performance from last year, when he batted .267, trailing Gleyber Torres and serving as one of the symbols of the Bronx’s 2023 collapse. However, when Judge struggled in the playoffs, hitting just .161, it was Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton who stepped up to lead the Yankees to the World Series, where they await either the Dodgers or Mets.

In a pivotal moment, Soto hit a three-run homer on a one-ball, two-strike count, securing a 4-1 series win for the Yankees. The Dominican star finished the Championship Series with a .368 average, tallying seven hits, including three home runs, and driving in six runs for Aaron Boone’s squad.

Soto ‘different’ to others in MLB

Since 2009, the Yankees have spent nearly $3 billion only to fall short five times in the Championship Series. But Soto proved to be the piece the Bronx had been craving.

“Soto doesn’t swing and miss often. He has the best judgment, knowing when to swing and when to let it go. He’s different,” pitcher Marcus Stroman praised the Dominican star.

Soto finished second in batting average for the Yankees during the regular season, posting a .288 mark, trailing only Aaron Judge’s .322. He also racked up 166 hits, 41 homers, and 109 RBIs, establishing himself as one of the team’s leaders.

“It’s incredibly difficult to get him out. I’ve faced him many times, and he’s relentless. He gives you at-bats that pitchers dread—grinding it out, staring you down, coming right at you. He does all the little things that get under your skin,” added team closer Luke Weaver.

The New York Post fittingly ran the headline “What a Juanderful World” after the Yankees advanced to the World Series, while The New York Times wrote, “For Juan Soto, thrill of the hunt captures a pennant for the Yankees.”

Between Soto, Stanton, and Judge, they combined for nine of the Yankees' ten home runs in the Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians, driving in 19 runs across five Games.

After last season’s disappointing 82-80 finish—the Yankees’ worst record since 1991—General Manager Brian Cashman knew the team needed generational talent, leading him to trade for pitcher Michael King and Kyle Higashioka to land Juan Soto.

However, it wasn’t just Soto that made the difference. Luke Weaver, who had played for the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners in 2023, resurrected his career with the Yankees, becoming one of the league’s top closers. Alongside Tim Hill and Jake Cousins, two former Chicago White Sox pitchers, Weaver helped solidify a bullpen that was crucial to the Yankees’ success.