NEW YORK — Juan Soto is predator; the pitcher, prey.
He prowls the batter’s box like a vicious jungle cat, stalking the opponent, calculating the odds, readying himself to pounce. A wayward ball evokes the trademark “Soto Shuffle,” in which the hulking slugger animalistically scrapes himself toward the mound. A well-located strike, on the other hand, elicits a nod of respect from Soto; an acknowledgment that, for a moment, he was bested.
But often, that moment is fleeting. Juan Soto is unavoidable.
The 25-year-old outfielder has enjoyed a storybook first six weeks as a New York Yankee.