Juan Soto blasts home run off scoreboard in Yankees spring training debut

Kyle Irving

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Juan Soto blasts home run off scoreboard in Yankees spring training debut image

Juan Soto's Yankees tenure started with a bang ... literally.

On Sunday, the All-Star outfielder made his New York debut in the Yankees' spring training game against the Blue Jays.

The scoreboard at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla. may need a repair after Soto's first marquee moment in pinstripes, as the 25-year-old outfielder blasted a three-run home run in his third plate appearance.

Juan Soto homers in Yankees' spring training debut

Soto grounded out to second in his first at-bat and walked in his second plate appearance. He took a low change-up from Blue Jays RHP Trevor Richards to get ahead in the count in his third at-bat, then launched a high 90-mph fastball 428 feet to opposite on the next pitch.

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Soto's home run cleared the fence in left-center, firing off his bat at 110.1 mph as it ricocheted off the scoreboard to give the Yankees a 7-1 lead in the fourth inning.

That would be Soto's final at-bat of the day, finishing 1-for-2 with a home run, three RBI, two runs, and a walk.

Soto's debut gave Yankees fans a first chance to see what the top of their lineup may look like this season.

Newly acquired outfielder Alex Verdugo led off and played left field. Soto hit second and played right field, while Aaron Judge hit third and played center field. Anthony Rizzo and Gleybert Torres hit fourth and fifth, respectively, to round out the lineup of expected everyday starters.

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Other expected starters such as DJ LeMahieu, Giancarlo Stanton, and Anthony Volpe weren't in the lineup for Soto's debut.

It was a nice taste of how dangerous Soto can be with that level of talent around him in the lineup, coming to the plate with runners on in two of his three at-bats while leading off with a walk — and scoring after Judge doubled and Rizzo knocked him in on a sacrifice ground-out — in his other plate appearance.

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.