The New York Yankees slugger Juan Soto who is primarily known for his insane slugging capabilities, showed up in a new form. It was when he played against the Baltimore Orioles that he displayed his base-stealing prowess. In a surprising display of aggressiveness, Soto attempted three steals on Wednesday night. With that, he successfully swept two bags. But this had the Yankees wondering.  

Could Soto really be on the verge of becoming a well-rounded offensive threat? While teammate Oswaldo Cabrera playfully guessed at Soto’s speed, the numbers don’t lie. As per Baseball Savant, Soto ranks quite high among Yankees’ position players in terms of sprint speed. While a player like Giancarlo Stanton might bring power, Soto seems to possess surprising hidden talent on the basepaths. And Yankees skipper Aaron Boone did not hesitate to shower praises. 

Aaron Boone’s opinion on Soto’s “running game”

Speaking about Soto in a post-game interview, Boone said, “Um you know felt like there were some some potential uh match up there to to to push the envelope in the running game and you know he did a good job with that.” Now, for Soto, this newfound confidence could have just fueled lofty ambitions.

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Boone acknowledged the strategy behind Soto’s running game. He pointed out the opportunity presented by Baltimore Orioles pitcher Corbin Burnes’ slow delivery. He believed there was more potential to do better and that’s when Soto came in and grabbed the opportunity. Clearly, the skipper commended Soto’s execution. 

As per nj.com, Soto declared, “That’s my goal. I just have to be more aggressive and be in better spots and try to go from there. With a little bit of help from my teammates, I’ll probably get to 20.” While this might have been just a statement from him in the brief one-on-one in his locker, it certainly has unleashed a new ambition in the 25-year-old. 

Will Juan Soto be able to reach his mighty goal? 

While Soto’s success is unquestioned, there are factors to consider. Batting in front of the mighty Aaron Judge limits stolen base opportunities, as the Yankees prioritize maximizing Judge’s offensive potential. Soto acknowledged, “At the end of the day, I’m hitting in front of the three-hole. You have to find the right spots to take chances.”

Regardless of the challenges, teammate Cabrera believes that Soto will be able to reach his goal. “He walks so much that I think he can do it,” Cabrera said.  With his high on-base percentage creating ample opportunities, Soto’s newfound focus on stealing bases could be a game-changer for the Yankees. So will Soto reach his target of 20 steals?