Juan Soto Booed in Bronx Return, Tips Helmet to Yankees Fans in Subway Series Showdown
NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto made a dramatic return to Yankee Stadium Friday night, and Yankees fans let him know exactly how they felt. Met with a chorus of boos, Soto responded with a gesture of class—and a bit of humor—stepping out of the batter’s box, removing his helmet, tipping it to the crowd, and tapping it over his heart.
The idea? Apparently, it came from some playful encouragement in the Mets’ dugout.
“I just did it,” Soto said after the game. “The guys loved it.”
Soto, who famously turned down a $760 million deal from the Yankees to sign a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract with Mets owner Steve Cohen, went 0-for-2 with three walks in the Mets’ 6-2 loss to the Yankees in his much-anticipated Bronx return. It was also his first game back since last fall’s World Series defeat to the Dodgers.
When he jogged out to right field wearing bright orange wristbands, Yankees’ infamous “Bleacher Creatures” turned their backs. Some fans chanted “Overrated!” and one even threw a ball back onto the field after Soto tossed it into the stands in the eighth inning—drawing loud cheers.
“To be expected,” said Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón, who issued all three walks to Soto.
- Juan Soto
Soto’s return included a weak throw home on Anthony Volpe’s third-inning sacrifice fly and a run scored in the fourth after another walk, thanks to a Brandon Nimmo single.
Still, the 26-year-old four-time All-Star smiled through the jeers, saying it might’ve been the most intense booing he’s ever faced.
“You’ve got to embrace it,” Soto said. “Whatever they give you, it is what it is. You’ve got to be a professional. You’ve got to take it like a man. I was just enjoying the moment.”
Both the Mets and Yankees currently lead their divisions—the Yankees at 26-18 in the AL East, and the Mets at 28-17 in the NL East—setting the stage for what could be a fiery six-game Subway Series this season.
Yankees fans had hoped Soto would stay long-term after being traded from San Diego in December 2023. He helped push the team to its first World Series appearance since 2009. But when free agency hit, Soto chose Queens over the Bronx, not just for the slightly higher offer, but also for personal perks: family security, a private luxury suite, and premium tickets from Cohen.
The boos had been brewing since that decision. Soto even caught early heat during pregame warmups, with jeers starting nearly two hours before first pitch as he jogged to the outfield, hat turned backward like his idol Ken Griffey Jr.
“They boo you because something happened,” Soto said with a grin. “I liked it a little bit.”
He later grounded out to end the seventh and flied out with runners on base in the ninth to end the game. Mets owner Steve Cohen had left his seat by then.
Still, Soto appeared to enjoy reconnecting with old teammates and manager Aaron Boone during batting practice, sharing laughs and memories.
“It was a pretty great environment,” Boone said. “You could really feel the energy in the building.”
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, formerly a Yankees coach, spoke with Soto earlier in the week to prepare him.
“Embrace it,” Mendoza told him. “Enjoy every second and be yourself.”
Statistically, Soto’s 2025 numbers haven’t matched last season’s dominance—.255 average, 8 homers, 20 RBIs, and an .845 OPS through 43 games, compared to a .313 average and 34 RBIs at this point last year. In 2024, he hit .288 with 41 home runs and 129 walks, forming a dynamic duo with Aaron Judge at the top of the Yankees lineup.
“Juan was only here a year,” said pitcher Clay Holmes, who also joined the Mets this season. “But what he brought to the team was massive. Some fans aren’t going to like seeing him in orange and blue.”
One game into the Subway Series, the rivalry is alive—and so is the drama.
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