On December 6, 2023, the New York Yankees struck a deal with the San Diego Padres to acquire Juan Soto in the blockbuster deal of the offseason. On October 19, 2024, Soto put the Yankees in the World Series for the first time in 15 years with one huge swing.

With the score tied at two in the 10th inning, the Yankees started a rally with one walk to Austin Wells. Alex Verdugo hit a grounder to second base, which the Guardians couldn’t quite turn to the bag in time, but instead bobbled to give the Yankees runners on first and second base with one out. Gleyber Torres was next, but was eliminated after four pitches, bringing Soto to bat with two on and two out – about as crucial a situation a hitter can find himself in. What came next was Soto’s most iconic moment in pinstripes to date and perhaps one of the greatest postseason at-bats in MLB history.

Hunter Gaddis started it off with a slider inside for ball one. Gaddis worked another slider just high enough to reach the strike zone and even the score with his second pitch. The next four pitches were a mix of changeups and sliders that Soto tried his hardest to make an error and continue the at-bat, all in the strike zone. Then came pitch seven, the first four-seamer that Soto saw enter the top of the zone at 95 mph. Soto cocked his bat well enough to do this with that offering:

Soto knew it as soon as he saw it fly off his bat, even as the rest of us at home still watched anxiously as Lane Thomas drifted back into center field and slowly ran out of real estate. He saw it happen, turned to the Yankee dugout and celebrated with his teammates, then completed the formality of trotting around the bases to cap off his go-ahead three-run home run.

The Guardians were in trouble from the moment Soto stepped to the plate, and he made them pay. Prior to this at bat, only Giancarlo Stanton could claim this honor as he hit a two-run shot to tie the game in the sixth inning. Soto had done more than his part to spark the offense in regulation, going 2-for-4 with a double and becoming one of two Yankees to score multiple hits in the game. However, his rocket to the middle sealed the deal and sealed this series for good. Luke Weaver was already on the mound for the bottom of the ninth to maintain the tie, and made quick work of Cleveland in the 10th never giving them a chance to challenge the lead Soto had produced.

The Yankees paid a king’s ransom to get Soto in pinstripes for this season, knowing they would only get one guaranteed shot with him before he hits free agency. They had to make the most of this season, back him with talent from across the squad to ensure they could reach a moment like this, and then trust the superstar to deliver when they needed him most. They held up their end of the deal, and then Soto did the same. The Yankees are advancing to the World Series and they have Juan Soto to thank for taking them the final step there.