Juan Soto’s three-run home run Saturday night in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) is one for the history books. Fearless as a gladiator, Soto squared off against the Cleveland Guardians’ pitcher Hunter Gaddis, fouling off four off-speed pitches and then sending a high-and-outside 95-mile-per-hour fastball into the seats.
As Soto trotted to first, he stopped and turned to the New York Yankees dugout and pumped his chest, delivering, to borrow a phrase from Yankees radio announcer John Sterling, an epic “Soto photo.”
Saturday night wasn’t Soto’s first clutch performance in the playoffs. The Yankees right-fielder is a man made for these very moments.
At just 21 years old, Soto led the Washington Nationals to their first-ever World Series title in 2019. He hit .333 in the series against the Houston Astros with three home runs and seven RBIs.
Here’s a selection of Soto’s most clutch moments from the 2019 playoffs with the Nationals and the 2022 playoffs with his second team, the San Diego Padres. As you can see, Soto has excelled against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
2019 World Series, Game 6: Washington Nationals vs. Houston Astros (October 29, 2019)
In a duel reminiscent of Saturday night’s at-bat against Gaddis, the 21-year-old Soto faced off against none other than Justin Verlander in the fifth inning with the Nationals facing elimination in the 2019 World Series.
With the count 2-1, Soto took an up-and-in 96-mile-per-hour fastball and nodded his head. He then clobbered the next pitch deep into right field for a home run that broke the tie, forcing a Game 7 that the Nationals would win, giving them their first World Series victory in franchise history.
2019 NLDS, Game 5: Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (October 9, 2019)
Soto clearly thrives against baseball’s best. In the final game of a best-of-five National League Division Series (NLDS) in 2019 against the Dodgers, Soto rocketed a home run off ace Clayton Kershaw to tie the game in the top of the eighth. The Nationals won in extra innings and moved on to the next stage before their World Series win.
2019 NL Wild Card Game: Washington Nationals vs. Milwaukee Brewers (October 1, 2019)
Soto was decisive at every stage of the Nationals’ playoff run in 2019. With two outs in the bottom of the eighth and the Nationals down 3-1 in a single-game play-in NL Wild Card game, Soto hit a bases-loaded single, sending all runners in, putting the Nationals on top, and clearing the first hurdle to their World Series victory.
2022 NLDS, Game 4: San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (October 16, 2022)
Soto has a history of tormenting the Dodgers. In Game 4 of the 2002 NLDS series, Soto tied the game in the bottom of the 7th with a single. The Padres won the game and moved on to the National League Championship Series (NLCS).
2019 World Series, Game 1: Washington Nationals vs. Houston Astros (October 22, 2019)
In the 2019 World Series, Soto faced off against his now-teammate Gerrit Cole in Game 1, hitting a home run off of now-teammate Gerrit Cole in the 4th inning, setting the tone for the series.
2022 NLCS, Game 2: San Diego Padres vs. Philadelphia Phillies (October 19, 2022)
With the San Diego Padres down 1-0 in the 2022 NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies, Soto hit a run-scoring double to tie the game at four in the bottom of the 5th inning. The Padres would go on to lose the series, but in this game, Soto delivered when it mattered the most.
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