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“As Good as It Gets”: Aaron Boone Spits Facts on Juan Soto’s Clutch Hitting

Published 05/06/2024, 11:10 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

Alright folks, let’s cut to the chase: Juan Soto eats pressure for breakfast. When this guy steps into that batter’s box with the game on the line, it’s like something primal kicks in. And after the New York Yankees’ rain-soaked sweep against Detroit, manager Aaron Boone didn’t hold back on praising his star outfielder’s clutch instincts.

“He’s about as good as it gets,” Boone stated in the post-game interview, laying down the bare truth. But here’s the thing: Soto’s clutch gene isn’t about a sudden burst of focus when the game gets tense. The skipper sees it in every single at-bat: “It feels like every at-bat he takes is that battle.” It’s that unrelenting intensity that sharpens his edge when the moment demands it. And the numbers? Oh, they back it up alright.

Juan Soto’s three-run double against lefty Andrew Chafin of the Detroit Tigers snapped that seventh-inning deadlock, a perfect example of him working the count and doing his thing: driving the ball with power. Let’s face it, this isn’t some fluke—the guy’s already leading the team with 28 RBIs.

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“I think I just like big moments,” Soto shrugs afterwards, that megawatt grin splitting his face. It’s more than just liking those moments, though. The adrenaline kicks in, sure, but underneath it is that ice-cold drive to obliterate the baseball. He wants the job done… and he wants it done badly.

And it’s not just Boone singing his praises. Even a casual fan can sense that electricity in the air when Juan Soto’s at the plate with runners on. The bat speed, the way he reads the pitches—it’s the total package. This guy isn’t just a clutch hitter; he’s redefining clutch hitting altogether.

But of course, there’s always that “next-level” talk. Can Soto truly be one of the all-time greats when it comes to clutch hitting? The potential is undeniable. He’s still young, but he already has that veteran poise you usually see in seasoned champs. If he keeps this trajectory, he could rewrite the record books for clutch performances.

Juan Soto’s X-Factor: When pressure makes diamonds

Let’s be real: Soto’s no stranger to clutch moments. Remember that 9th-inning homer against the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2019 with the Washington Nationals? Down to their final out, and Soto goes yard? That was a taste of pure Bambino magic right there. The raw power, the swagger—a sign of things to come.

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And this season, he’s delivering those clutch hits with frightening consistency. It’s that “clutch gene” that separates the good from the generational. A lot of hitters shrink under pressure. But Soto? He channels that pressure into something explosive. The tougher the situation, the brighter he shines.

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Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s more to Soto than just a sweet swing. This guy’s a master of the mental game. That iconic Soto shuffle? It’s not some showboat routine; it’s him getting into his zone and finding that rhythm when his heart’s pounding. The way he stares down pitchers—that’s pure psychological warfare. He’s already broken the pitcher before he even lifts that bat.

To put it bluntly, having Juan Soto on your roster is like having an ever-winning ace in your pocket. It’s a confidence boost for the whole team, a reminder that no game is out of reach with this guy batting cleanup. And for opposing pitchers? I wouldn’t want to step onto that mound with Soto looming and a game on the line. That’s nightmare fuel right there.

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Written by:

Shrabana Sengupta

670Articles

One take at a time

Shrabana Sengupta is an MLB writer at EssentiallySports. Shrabana shot to fame when she covered two prime MLB events: the 2023 World Series and the Free Agency that followed. During the 2023 World Series, Shrabana wrote her unfeigned perspectives on the Texas Rangers’ Corey Seager and his wife, the 27x World Series Champions’ heartbreaking season, and later covered Shohei Ohtani’s highly anticipated record-breaking contract in 2023-24.
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