Yankees' Juan Soto feeling 'at home' ahead of season opener - ESPN

On the eve of the New York Yankees' season opener at Minute Maid Park against the Houston Astros, manager Aaron Boone had a simple directive for his new slugger: It's your team, too.

Asked how Juan Soto will fit into a team with Aaron Judge as the acknowledged superstar and Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton entrenched as veteran leaders, Boone said on a Zoom call with reporters Wednesday, «My message to him is: It's his clubhouse, too, and we want to learn and grow from you and want you to feel empowered to say and do whatever you feel like you need to do.»

Acquired from the San Diego Padres in a blockbuster offseason trade, Soto brings his powerful bat, elite on-base ability and Soto Shuffle to a lineup that struggled to score runs in 2023. With the Padres, there were reports during the season as the team's playoff hopes slowly disintegrated that some of the egos in the San Diego clubhouse — Soto, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. — had clashed, although Soto denied it late in the season.

«Look, anytime you're a player coming over to a team for the first time, I'm sure you're toeing the water a little bit, getting a feel for everything,» Boone said. «I do feel like the team from a bonding standpoint has come together really well this spring in short order. I would include Juan in that. He seems very comfortable, he seems happy. I think our leaders do a great job of making guys feel at home. From a leadership and what kind of vocal role he takes, that probably still remains to be seen.»

After a hot start to spring training, with three home runs in his first four games, Soto scuffled a bit toward the end. During the team's trip to Mexico to wrap up spring training, Soto stayed behind in Tampa, Florida, at the team's