Former Yankees star Juan Soto was showered with boos on his return to the Bronx with New York rival the Mets on Friday night.
Soto, a four-time All-Star, starred for the Yankees last season as the team reached the World Series, but bolted across town in the winter to sign a mammoth $765million contract with the Mets.
And on his first return to Yankee Stadium, the 26-year-old’s introduction to the crowd sparked a furious reaction from the home crowd before the game.
Yankees fans booed even more ferociously when he stepped up to bat second in the Mets’ first inning, and Soto responded by sarcastically tipping his hat to his old fanbase.
After making it to second base, the Mets were eventually struck out for a third time before Soto took up a position on right field.
And as he lined up ready for the Yankees to bat, hundreds of home fans in the stands turned their backs on their former player in a moment which quickly went viral.
Heading into Friday night’s showdown with his ex-team, Soto didn’t seem overly concerned with the negative reaction he’s set to face.
‘I don’t mind,’ he told reporters on Wednesday night.
He has started a little slowly in Queens, slashing a .255/.380/.465 line to go along with eight home runs in 43 games.
However, Soto has picked things up so far in May, producing a 1.077 OPS in 12 games as he gears up for a three-game series against the Yankees.
