When the Pittsburgh Pirates’ rising star, Paul Skenes, was selected as the National League’s starting pitcher in the All-Star Game, fans eagerly anticipated the matchups he would face. One notable showdown was against New York Yankees standout Juan Soto, who approached the plate with aspirations of hitting a home run against Skenes.
Soto’s encounter with Skenes resulted in a seven-pitch at-bat that ended with him drawing a walk, marking the only time a batter reached base against Skenes. Reflecting on his approach, Soto candidly admitted, as reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, “I was trying to take him deep. No lie.” Despite swinging at three of the pitches, with two resulting in whiffs and the third a foul ball, Skenes managed to stymie Soto’s power-hitting ambitions, registering four swinging strikes during his inning on the mound.
Ultimately, the American League prevailed 5-3, with Soto contributing significantly with a two-RBI double that kickstarted his team’s scoring. Although the game did not see a Soto home run, his pivotal double helped propel the AL to victory, highlighting his impact despite not achieving his initial goal against Skenes.
Looking ahead, the Yankees are optimistic that Soto will bring his power surge into the second half of the season. Should he face Paul Skenes again on the mound, Soto intends to be prepared for the challenge.
His aggressive baserunning, including hustling for a double after a hit to center field, demonstrated his determination and readiness to impact the game beyond just hitting home runs, showcasing a different facet of his All-Star caliber play.
