Separately, the Yankees' Juan Soto and Aaron Judge are great. Together, they're remarkable.
![Juan Soto of the Yankees hits a solo home run...](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3ANjhmZTIzOWEtNjZiYy00%3AOWEtNjZiYy00OWY1ZTg2%2F2166685205.jpg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
Juan Soto of the Yankees hits a solo home run in the seventh inning against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on Tuesday in Chicago. Credit: Getty Images/Quinn Harris
CHICAGO — If this was any other Yankees season, Juan Soto would be front and center in the discussion for American League MVP.
But this, of course, has been the season of Aaron Judge, whose otherworldly numbers have cast a shadow over all of his teammates, Soto included.
Not that Soto’s remarkable season, which included him hitting three homers in the first time in his career Tuesday night in a 4-1 victory over the White Sox, has gone unnoticed. Far from it. Especially in the 25-year-old’s own clubhouse.
“I don’t know because I feel like in watching Juan, I’m watching one of the best seasons I’ve ever seen too,” Aaron Boone said. “And then I get to watch Aaron right behind him. Try not to take for granted [and] try to appreciate what you’re seeing with both of those guys. I don’t know if it’s overshadowing or not. I just know that is one tough at-bat every single day.”
Soto came into Wednesday night’s game hitting .306 with 33 homers, 86 RBIs, 99 walks and a 1.042 OPS. He reached base in 105 of his 117 games this season, the most such games in the majors.
Soto, the most consistent of Yankees’ hitters, including Judge when taking the entirety of the season into account, has been particularly hot of late. He is slashing .351/.456/.781 with 12 homers, 23 RBIs, 11 doubles, one triple, 28 runs and 22 walks in his previous 28 games. He reached base multiple times in 19 of those games.
“That’s who he is. That’s why he’s the greatest hitter in the game,” Judge said.
Soto, of course, says the same about Judge, who came into Wednesday slashing .332/.466/.699 with an MLB-leading 42 homers, 107 RBIs, .466 on-base percentage, .699 slugging percentage, 1.165 OPS, 101 walks, times on base (248) and total bases (295).
“Look at his numbers, he’s unbelievable,” Soto said Tuesday. “He makes my job easier. When you’re hitting in front of a guy like that, you know you’re getting pitches. He’s the greatest one.”
Judge’s 248 times on base and Soto’s 234 times on base make them the only set of teammates in the big leagues in the last 87 years to reach base at least 234 times in their club's first 121 games of a season, the first to do so since Detroit's Hank Greenberg (253) and Charlie Gehringer (238) in 1937.
“These guys carry our lineup,” said Nestor Cortes, who threw seven scoreless innings in Tuesday’s victory. “Whenever they’re on base, or whenever they’re up to bat, I like my chances.”
Righty Jake Cousins, who notched his first career save Tuesday when he struck out Brooks Baldwin with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, simply shook his head in discussing the duo.
“Holy smokes. Soto and Judge are both just like the most incredible players you’ll ever see,” Cousins said. “We sit down there [in the bullpen] all the time and every time they hit homers, we’re just like, ‘Man, these guys are so good.’”
More Yankees headlines
![](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AYTNkNDcwYzItOWE4Mi00%3AOGE5ZWU2NTAtZTAwNy00%2Fspyankees240911.jpg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
![](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AZmIwN2EyNWYtMWFlYi00%3ANjJhZGE1MDctZDg2OC00%2Fspyankees240911.jpg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
![](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AYzY2NDMzYzctYzNlNS00%3AYzVjMzFiZTQtMDg1ZS00%2Fspmets240910.jpg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)
![](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AMTdmZWRmMzMtYzdhMi00%3AZWRiZWExODctOTMzZS00%2Fspyankees240911.jpg%3Ff%3DLandscape%2B16%253A9%26w%3D770%26q%3D1&w=1920&q=80)