Fans of the New York Yankees were disgruntled, disappointed, and even exasperated with the 2023 version of the team – a team that lost its captain a third of the way through the season and never rebounded. The 2023 Yankees were described by their Vice President and General Manager Brian Cashman as a “disaster” and a “shock.” The result of this disastrous season was the acquisition of Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres, and, in one fell swoop, the Yankees became better offensively with the addition of this transformational player.
As a Yankee fan and, growing up in the Midwest, a Cub fan, I was aware of Soto, of course, especially from the 2019 World Series, but not aware of the fact that the 25-year-old has already been compared to the likes of Ted Williams, Barry Bonds, and Mickey Mantle and that he has the reputation of being an offense unto himself. According to Brendan Kuty and Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, “acquiring Soto changes the entire complexion of the Yankees’ outlook heading into 2024.” (12/6/23) He’s a player who instantly makes an offense that finished 25th in runs scored and 24th in OPS better.
What can Yankee fans expect from Soto in 2024? Soto played 162 games for the San Diego Padres in 2023 and had a so-so year for him, meaning he hit .275/.410/.519 while leading the league in walks. Soto is known as one of the most disciplined hitters in the league, and Michael Bauman of Fangraphs wrote that “Juan Soto is going to score a bajillion runs hitting in front of Aaron Judge (12/8/23).
Soto has drawn at least 130 walks for the last three seasons, a feat which Bauman points out he shares with Babe Ruth (9), Barry Bonds (7), and Ted Williams (7), and he has the third-highest OBP since 2000 with .421, comparable only to Bonds (.517) and Larry Walker (.421). Soto is one of the best hitters of the last 25 years. Bauman says, “The point is, Soto is on base all the time.” Thus, the best power hitter of his generation will be the beneficiary of the best on-base guy of his generation. The result is that the Yankees should not have the trouble scoring runs they had in 2023.
Fangraphs projects that Soto will lead the league in OBP with .425 in 2024 and will once again be the walk leader with a projected 19.4. For a team like the New York Yankees that ranked 25th in runs scored in 2023, Soto will single-handedly improve their offense and kick them up in the rankings.
Soto is durable and, according to Fangraphs, is expected to play a projected 157 games for the Yankees in 2024. Fangraphs projects he will hit .284/.425/.558 and come in just behind Ronald Acuna, Jr. (7.4) for the league lead in WAR with 6.6. Fangraphs also projects that he will lead the league in wRC+ with 170. Yankee fans look forward with great anticipation to seeing Soto take advantage of the short porch in Yankee Stadium, and Fangraphs projects 39 home runs – which would be a career-high.
Soto promises to continue the trajectory towards Hall of Fame numbers in a career that projects to only get better with the Yankees in 2024. Not only do fans believe that Soto will succeed in Yankee Stadium and for the Yankees in 2024, but they also believe that the team will have success behind him because of the offensive arsenal he brings. The combination of Soto and Judge in the Yankee lineup will again make the Yankees a potent and feared offense in 2024.
