Superstar slugger Juan Soto hit in front of Aaron Judge with the New York Yankees last season before going to the New York Mets, but the latter is having no trouble without the former so far. Judge went 4-for-6 with three homers, eight RBI, and a double in the Yankees’ 20-9 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.
The Bronx Bombers hit nine home runs as a team, one shy of the MLB record. They also are the first squad in history to have their 1-6 hitters all go yard in the same game (h/t YES Network).
They’re also the first team to hit three homers on the first three pitches of a game, which was done by Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Judge, respectively (via Sportradar).
New York Yankees right fielder Juan Soto (22) and center fielder Aaron Judge (99).
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Although the Yankees (2-0) are doing fine without Soto, Judge refuses to dismiss his former teammate’s greatness, per SNY.
“Nobody can replace Soto,” the future Hall of Famer said. “He’s one of a kind, but I think with the guys we added, we were able to fill some holes that we probably had last year.”
Judge, Soto, and Giancarlo Stanton led the Bronx Bombers to the World Series in October, but they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. The Yankees added Bellinger and Goldschmidt after Soto signed a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets. They also promoted top prospect Jasson Dominguez to a full-time role in the big leagues.
Soto and the Mets (1-1) will play their third game of the season against the Houston Astros on Saturday night.
