For New York Yankees fans, a few nightmares loom large: a World Series win for the Boston Red Sox or New York Mets, or seeing one of their former players snag an MVP award. Enter Juan Soto, whose potential MVP win could stir those uneasy feelings.
Recently, John Harper from SNY made a bold prediction: Soto will outshine Shohei Ohtani for the MVP award, thanks to a potential 50-home run season. Soto himself has expressed his MVP aspirations, and to dethrone Ohtani, he’ll need more than his usual impressive stats.
Soto’s power is undeniable. At just 27, his home run numbers have been climbing, with 35, 41, and 43 dingers in the last three seasons.
Reaching the 50-home run milestone might require Soto to be more aggressive at the plate, possibly sacrificing some walks, a trade-off the Mets would likely welcome. Meanwhile, Ohtani remains a formidable contender.
If he returns to full-time pitching with his usual flair, it could complicate Soto’s path to the MVP. Yet, at 32, maintaining his dual-threat status over a full season is no small feat.
While Soto’s power surge into the 50-home run territory isn't out of the question, it's important to remember how challenging such a feat truly is. Even for someone like Aaron Judge, hitting 50 is never a given. But if Soto can channel his power and take a few more risks at the plate, Yankees fans might just have another reason to keep a close eye on the MVP race this season.