Juan Soto points out defensive deficiencies in Game 1 of the World Series as sloppy play stifles the Yankees

LOS ANGELES – This didn’t have to be a World Series classic. There didn't have to be countless video mashups of Freddie Freeman's walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series next to Kirk Gibson's legendary home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. And there certainly didn't need to be another fable about a disabled Los Angeles Dodger circling the bases in Chavez Ravine in late October. The New York Yankees found themselves on the wrong side of baseball history Friday night, but it didn't have to be that way.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Dodgers center fielder Kiké Hernández hit a ball down the right field line that was deflected by Juan Soto, an American League Gold Glove Award finalist that season. Soto got within five feet of the catch after having to travel 75 feet, but failed and only ran 70 feet before the ball rolled past him. Soto's momentum carried him into foul territory, allowing Hernández to advance to third base with a triple.

Soto's route running proved costly.

The next batter, Dodgers catcher Will Smith, threw a shallow fly ball to Soto. Hernández moved from third and quickly scored, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Gavin Lux ended the inning with a line out to center field.

Had the Yankees engaged in the what-if game, they might have imagined that the score would remain at zero if Soto had played the Hernández ball differently. Statcast estimated the catch probability at just 5 percent, suggesting it would have taken a spectacular effort for Soto to secure the out. Soto was convinced he was on the right path and was heading straight for the ball. However, had he chosen a more circular path and dropped the ball in front of him, Hernández would never have reached third.

“Right now you’re trying to make the play,” Soto said. “After the ball goes past you, it feels really bad. At the end of the day, when the ball was hit, I thought I had a chance, but the ball kept fading and kept flying.”

Soto is one of the game's most gifted players and is poised to make life-changing money in free agency this offseason. But if there is a weakness to his game, it's his defense. Watching Soto during the regular season can be an adventure whenever the ball is hit his way. This season he finished with minus-5 outs above average, ranking 38th out of 44 right fielders.

He posted slightly better results in defensive runs saved, finishing with a minus-1 mark. The only aspect of his defense where he excels is his arm. Still, his candidacy for the Gold Glove Award raises questions about the legitimacy of the voting process, which relies heavily on managers and assistant coaches making up 75 percent of the vote.

This offseason, the superstar outfielder worked with center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., a defensive expert, and realized improving his defense was essential. During the Yankees' opening series in Houston, Soto declared, “Defense wins championships.” A more effective defensive play in the fifth inning would have prevented a Dodgers run and potentially changed the outlook for Game 1.

“If it doesn’t go the way you want it to, it sucks,” Soto said.

The Yankees' defense was tested again in the eighth inning when Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani blasted a 113.9 mph double off the right-center field wall. Soto initially wobbled the ball after retrieving it, then made a throw to second base, where Gleyber Torres was positioned to receive it. Soto's throw was a one-hopper that caught Torres in between and allowed Ohtani to take off to third base as the ball slipped past the Yankees' second baseman.

Torres came under fire online for misplaying the jump, but Soto believes the blame lies with him.

“I should have made a better throw,” Soto said.

From the moment Ohtani's batted ball flew through the air, confusion reigned in the game. Both Anthony Volpe and Torres positioned themselves as cutoff men. Realizing that no one was covering second base and a play at the bag might be developing, Torres backed off and got into position, but failed to create enough space for a clean jump on Soto's throw.

As the ball slipped past Torres, Anthony Rizzo remained at first base, watching as a spectator rather than providing support. Ohtani later scored on the next at-bat when Mookie Betts delivered a sacrifice fly. For eight innings, both of the Dodgers' runs were the result of defensive errors by the Yankees.

“Every little thing in the game, especially in these games, is an opportunity for the offense to make another run,” Torres said. “He came third. Mookie hit the fly ball up the middle and it was a tie game. I need to make the adjustment. If I get another opportunity, try to block the ball and keep it in front and make it easier.”

“It was a tough game for him,” Soto said. “He wasn’t on base. He was on his way to the base. I think if I had seen where he was when I threw the ball, I would have made a better throw. It’s a tough shot, but it’s part of it.”

A clean play at second would have prevented Shohei Ohtani from advancing to third and ultimately scoring. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

There are also questions surrounding Yankees manager Aaron Boone's decision to remove Torres after his ninth-inning double. Boone decided to replace him with Jasson Domínguez as pinch-runner – an important move, especially considering that a run was crucial in this situation and the game ended in a tie. Aaron Judge had two runners on first and second but was unable to capitalize, leaving the game tied in the bottom of the ninth.

In extra innings, Boone brought in Oswaldo Cabrera to play second base. Tommy Edman hit a ball to Cabrera's right that went into the outfield after over-committing. While Torres may not be the strongest defender, he excels at moving to the right. If the Yankees had made an out on Edman's groundball, Ohtani would have come to the plate with two outs, which might have changed Boone's decision to bring on Nestor Cortes. Boone had Tim Hill warm up alongside Cortes and indicated that if Ohtani had pitched with two outs, he would have strongly considered bringing in Hill.

Instead, there was only one out when Ohtani came to the plate. Alex Verdugo made a difficult catch in foul territory on Ohtani's hit, crashing into the wall and landing in the stands. The Yankees then intentionally decided to walk Betts to set up a left-on-left matchup with Freeman. Cortes missed his spot and Freeman delivered a walk-off grand slam, winning Game 1 for the Dodgers.

Sloppiness has been one of the Yankees' biggest shortcomings this season and may have cost them a chance to take a game-long lead in the World Series.

(Top photo by Juan Soto: AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)