Soto went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Red Sox.
Soto recently battled a forearm injury, and that may have been bothering him during an eight-game stretch without a homer. He also walked multiple times for the sixth time in 11 contests in June. The outfielder continues to put up superstar numbers with 18 homers, 55 RBI, 58 runs scored, four stolen bases and a .319/.435/.599 slash line over 70 games this season.
Soto (forearm) will start at designated hitter and bat second Monday in Kansas City, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.
Soto missed the previous three contests with left forearm inflammation but is feeling well enough to return to action for the start of the Yankees' series against the Royals. He will be eased into action at DH, and it's possible the team will keep him there for a bit in order to protect his forearm.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after Sunday's 6-4 win over the Dodgers that Soto (forearm) "probably" wasn't available off the bench, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Soto went through his normal pregame routine in the hopes of entering Sunday's game as a pinch hitter. Though Boone said that Soto responded well to the pregame workout, the Yankees still opted to err on the side of caution and keep the star outfielder on the bench throughout the night. Soto's status for Monday's series opener versus the Royals thus remains murky after he missed the entirety of the three-game series with the Dodgers due to forearm soreness.
Yankees' Juan Soto: Feeling better, could hit Sunday
Rotowire
Manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that Soto (forearm) will "probably" take swings Sunday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
Boone said earlier Saturday that it would likely be a few more days before Soto would re-enter the Yankees' starting lineup. On top of being a candidate to hit Sunday, Soto went through a significant amount of his pregame prep Saturday, per Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, which is yet another encouraging sign for Soto after the injury scare Thursday.
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Yankees' Juan Soto: Could come off bench Sunday
Rotowire
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Soto (forearm) will go through his normal pregame routine and may be available off the bench Sunday against the Dodgers, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
Boone also indicated that Soto should rejoin the lineup during the four-game series in Kansas City that begins Monday, as the outfielder appears to be progressing well in his recovery from forearm inflammation. It remains to be seen if the 25-year-old will be back in action Monday against the Royals, but it appears his absence won't extend too much longer.
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Yankees' Juan Soto: Remaining on bench Sunday
Rotowire
Soto (forearm) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated Saturday that Soto likely wouldn't be back in the lineup for a few days, so it's hardly a surprise he's on the bench again Sunday. Boone also indicated the 25-year-old would "probably" take swings Sunday, which could put the outfielder on track to play sometime during the four-game set in Kansas City that begins Monday.
