Juan Soto Makes MLB History in Yankees Debut

New York Yankees star outfielder Juan Soto couldn't have asked for a better debut with his new team.

Soto, who was traded to the Yankees in a seven-player deal earlier this offseason, did it all in his New York debut on Thursday against the Houston Astros, and made MLB history along the way.

According to OptaSTATS on X, Soto became the first outfielder to drive in a run, draw multiple walks and throw out the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning in the same game since the RBI stat became official in 1920. Quite the way to kick off a season with a new team.

The Yankees won the Soto sweepstakes earlier this offseason, when they parted with right-handed pitchers Michael King, Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez, as well as top pitching prospect Drew Thorpe and catcher Kyle Higashioka. In return, the Yankees got Soto and outfielder Trent Grisham from the San Diego Padres.

Soto and fellow Yankees star Aaron Judge make up one of the most formidable duos in MLB history. On Thursday, they didn't disappoint.

Soto, batting in the two-hole, went 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI single. Judge, batting in the three-hole right behind Soto, went 1-for-4 with a double and a walk.

The Yankees came back from a 4-0 deficit, scoring five unanswered runs to enter the bottom of the ninth inning with 5-4 lead. Then, when the Astros put runners on first and second with one out, it was Soto who came to the rescue again.

Star outfielder Kyle Tucker hit a ball into right field, and Soto came charging in, picked up the ball and launched it home to get Mauricio Dubón out at the plate. Here's a video of the impressive throw, courtesy of MLB on X:

The throw from right field was 87.6 mph, according to the Associated Press. Soto, who had a career-high 10 outfield assists last season with San Diego, got his first with the Yankees in grand fashion.

Soto hasn't been known as a plus-defender thus far in his MLB career. While he has above-average arm strength, ranking in the 82nd percentile in 2023 per Baseball Savant, he ranked in just the third percentile in range (according to Statcast's Outs Above Average metric) at minus-9.

The Yankees didn't trade for Soto for his glove — he has a career OPS of .946 — but if he continues to play the outfield like he did on Thursday, he'll do more than enough to justify the biggest blockbuster trade of the offseason.