Juan Soto continues to win over the hearts of Yankee fans, picking up an RBI single as the decisive run of a 3-2 win on Tuesday night in the Bronx.
The single came on the heels of Soto’s first home run in pinstripes, which he hit in Monday’s series opener against the Marlins. To start that game, Soto was signing an autograph for a fan in right field as Nestor Cortes was beginning his windup to throw the first pitch of the first inning.
For Evan, the way Soto has built an instant rapport with the fans is unlike any New York athlete he has seen make such an immediate positive impact with the fanbase.
“He has gotten off to the best start you could possibly have with fans that I’ve seen in this city in a very long time,” Evan said. “The only other one I can think of that is kind of close is Hideki Matsui. He got off to a great start with Yankee fans because of performance. But everybody else who comes over via big acquisition, there’s a rough patch. There has been no rough patch. It has just been constant love-making between Soto and Yankee fans since the moment he got here.”
Matsui introduced himself to Yankee fans by blasting a grand slam in his first-ever home game, and he was a fan favorite from that moment until he ended his tenure in New York by winning World Series MVP. Soto is in a unique spot as a potential rental, but so far, it seems like the match between Soto and the fans is one made in heaven.
“Usually when you bring in a star, it’s the first year of a long contract, so you better love him,” Evan said. “He’s gonna be with your team for a long time…this is different. Everything matters. It’s like you’re dating for a full year.”