Boomer: Yankees showed 'heart of a champion' by coming back to beat Astros

Boomer took in the Yankees’ comeback win on Opening Day and saw a team that already looks different than the 2023 squad, as he now sees a lineup that will grind, battle, and do whatever it takes to win.

“I thought after the first inning, ‘This thing is gonna be a blowout.’ But this team now shows the heart of a champion and comes back,” Boomer said. “And you have a $30 million right fielder throwing an absolute seed to the plate.

“The investment in Juan Soto had paid off. It paid off in many different ways.”

Soto seemed to drastically change the complexion of the Yankee lineup, drawing two walks and ripping an RBI single before throwing out the potential tying run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth. It also seemed to bleed over into other Yankee at-bats, and Boomer loves what the Soto impact has done for the rest of the lineup.

“They showed the heart of a champion,” Boomer said. “Comebacks, throwing a guy out from the outfield when you need it most, big spots, guys showing up.”