Juan Soto owns defensive shortcomings in World Series Game 1, as sloppy play stifles Yankees

LOS ANGELES — This didn’t have to become a World Series classic. There didn’t have to be countless video mashups of Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series alongside Kirk Gibson’s legendary home run from Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. And there certainly didn’t have to be another fable of a hobbled Los Angeles Dodger circling the bases in late October at Chavez Ravine. The New York Yankees found themselves on the wrong side of baseball history Friday night, but it didn’t have to play out this way.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Dodgers center fielder Kiké Hernández hit a ball down the right-field line that tailed away from Juan Soto, an American League Gold Glove Award finalist this season. Soto came within five feet of making the catch, having needed to cover 75 feet, but fell short, running only 70 before the ball rolled past him. Soto’s momentum carried him into foul territory, allowing Hernández to advance to third base with a triple.

Soto’s route running proved costly.

The next batter, Dodgers catcher Will Smith, lofted a shallow fly ball to Soto. Hernández tagged from third and scored on the sacrifice fly, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Gavin Lux ended the inning with a line out to center field.

If the Yankees had indulged in the what-if game, they might have imagined the score remaining tied at zero had Soto played the Hernández ball differently. Statcast estimated a mere 5 percent catch probability, indicating that a spectacular effort would have been required for Soto to secure the out. Off the bat, Soto believed he had taken the right route, moving in a direct line toward the ball. However, had he chosen a more circular path and let the ball drop in front of him, Hernández would never have reached third.

“In the moment, you’re trying to make the play,” Soto said. “After the ball goes by you, it feels really bad. At the end of the day, when the ball was hit, I thought I had a chance, but the ball kept fading and kept going away.”

Soto is one of the game’s most gifted players, poised to earn lifechanging money this offseason in free agency. But if there’s a weakness in his game, it’s his defense. Watching Soto during the regular season can be an adventure whenever the ball is hit his way. This season, he finished with minus-5 outs above average, ranking 38th out of 44 right fielders.

He recorded slightly better results in defensive runs saved, finishing at minus-1. The only aspect of his defense where he excels is his arm. Nevertheless, his candidacy for the Gold Glove Award raises questions about the legitimacy of the voting process, which relies heavily on managers and assistant coaches who account for 75 percent of the vote.

This offseason, the superstar outfielder worked with center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., a defensive wizard, recognizing that improving his defense was essential. During the Yankees’ opening week series in Houston, Soto stated, “Defense wins championships.” A more effective defensive play in the fifth inning could have prevented a run for the Dodgers and may have changed the outlook of Game 1.

“When it doesn’t go your way, it sucks,” Soto said.

The Yankees’ defense came under scrutiny again in the eighth inning when Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani blasted a 113.9 mph double off the right-center field wall. Soto initially bobbled the ball after retrieving it, then made a throw to second base where Gleyber Torres was positioned to receive it. Soto’s throw was a one-hopper that caught Torres in between, allowing Ohtani to take off for third base as the ball skidded past the Yankees’ second baseman.

Torres caught heat online for misplaying the hop, but Soto believes the blame falls on him.

“I should have made a better throw,” Soto said.

Confusion reigned on the play from the moment Ohtani’s batted ball soared through the air. Both Anthony Volpe and Torres positioned themselves as cutoff men. When Torres realized that no one was covering second base and a play might develop at the bag, he retreated, backpedaling into position but failing to create enough space for a clean hop on Soto’s throw.

As the ball slipped past Torres, Anthony Rizzo remained at first base, watching as a spectator instead of providing backup. Ohtani later scored in the next at-bat when Mookie Betts delivered a sacrifice fly. For eight innings, both of the Dodgers’ runs were the result of defensive blunders by the Yankees.

“Every little thing from the game, especially in these games, is an opportunity for the offense to get another run,” Torres said. “He went to third. Mookie hit the fly ball to center and it was a tied game. I have to do the adjustment. If I got another opportunity, try to block the ball and keep it in front and make it more simple.”

“It was a tough play for him,” Soto said. “He wasn’t on the base. He was on the way to the base. I think if I saw where he was when I threw the ball, I would’ve made a better throw. It’s a tough throw but it’s part of it.”

There’s also second-guessing surrounding Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s decision to pull Torres after his ninth-inning double. Boone opted to replace him with Jasson Domínguez as a pinch-runner — an important move especially considering that one run in that situation was critical with the game tied. Aaron Judge came up with runners on first and second but failed to capitalize, leaving the game tied as it moved to the bottom of the ninth.

In extra innings, Boone brought in Oswaldo Cabrera to play second base. Tommy Edman hit a ground ball to Cabrera’s right, which trickled into the outfield after he overcommitted. While Torres may not be the strongest defender, he excels at moving to his right. If the Yankees had made an out on Edman’s ground ball, Ohtani would have come to the plate with two outs, potentially altering Boone’s decision to bring in Nestor Cortes. Boone had Tim Hill warming up alongside Cortes and indicated that if Ohtani had stepped up with two outs, he would have strongly considered bringing in Hill.

Instead, there was only one out when Ohtani came to the plate. Alex Verdugo made a difficult catch in foul territory on Ohtani’s at-bat, crashing into the wall and landing in the stands. The Yankees then chose to intentionally walk Betts to set up a lefty-on-lefty matchup with Freeman. Cortes missed his location, and Freeman delivered a walk-off grand slam, winning Game 1 for the Dodgers.

Sloppiness has been one of the Yankees’ biggest shortcomings this season, and it may have cost them a chance to take a one game lead in the World Series.

(Top photo of Juan Soto: AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)