Yankees Slugger Juan Soto Hits 3 Homers In A Game For The 1st Time

CHICAGO — Juan Soto smashed three home runs in a single game for the first time in his career on Tuesday night, connecting in three consecutive at-bats for the New York Yankees against the Chicago White Sox.

Yankees Slugger Juan Soto Hits 3 Homers In A Game For The 1st Time

The slugger started his outburst with a two-run blast to left field off starter Jonathan Cannon in the third inning, then went the other way with a leadoff home run in the fifth.

“It locks me in every time I hit the ball that way,” Soto told me. “I feel like that is my strength right there. I feel great about it.”

The four-time All-Star hit his 33rd home run of the season in the seventh inning against left-handed reliever Fraser Ellard, a drive to right that scored 4-0.

Soto walked his final time up in the ninth, giving him a chance to tie the major league record for four home runs in a game. He smiled after swinging and missing on a 3-0 pitch that was slightly outside of the strike zone.

“I was ready,” Soto stated with a smile.

His huge night at the plate propelled the Yankees to a 4-1 victory, putting them in first place in the AL East, half a game ahead of Baltimore.

It was the 40th three-home run game in Yankees history, including the postseason. Ben Rice, a New York rookie, had one earlier this summer, on July 6 versus Boston.

Soto, 25, has hit multiple home runs in 23 career games. The only player with more by age 25 was Hall of Fame slugger Mel Ott, who had 24.

Yankees Slugger Juan Soto Hits 3 Homers In A Game For The 1st Time

Soto is batting.351 in his previous 28 games, with 12 home runs and a 1.233 OPS.

“I’ve been working on just trying to be accurate to the ball,” he told me. “Just be accurate with my barrel and see what happens.”

SOURCE | AP