Cody Bellinger didn’t hesitate when asked to size up Juan Soto.
At All-Star Game media availability, the Yankees outfielder called the Mets star the sport’s top hitter, even with Aaron Judge sitting right there as his teammate for two seasons.
“Juan Soto: Best bat in the game,” Bellinger said at All-Star Game media availability when asked his opinion on Soto. “Consistent at-bat every single game. He’s so good, man.”
Soto will bat second and start in left field in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game. He’s in the second season of a 15-year $765 million contract with the Mets and has put together a .290 batting average and a .967 OPS, along with 21 home runs and 51 RBI. Over his nine-year career, Soto has earned five All-Star selections and finished top five in MVP voting four times.
Judge’s résumé is no less imposing. The Yankees slugger is a three-time American League MVP in his 11-year career, has led all of MLB in bWAR three times and home runs twice, and was having another monster season before injury stopped him cold.
He played 59 games before suffering a fractured right rib that has kept him on the injured list since the end of May. Even in limited action, Judge launched 17 home runs, and he was still named to his eighth All-Star team and was slated as a starter if healthy.
Bellinger’s take quickly made the rounds on social media. On the X clip of Bellinger, NFL writer John Frascella wrote, “Am I hearing this right… am I reading this right… Cody Bellinger says Juan Soto is the best hitter in MLB over his TEAMMATE Aaron Judge??”
This is Bellinger’s second season alongside Judge, and he also singled out Judge and veteran Giancarlo Stanton as leaders in the Yankees clubhouse.
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