Juan Soto’s Yankee Stadium comment reveals why some fans still feel betrayed

Is Juan Soto going to get boo'ed upon his return to Yankee Stadium? Without a doubt. Why even ask the question? Forget the Yankees for a moment — every single fan base is rabid to a certain extent and these narratives are exactly what drives emotion and competition. Relax, guys, Soto isn't going to be tarred and feathered as he leaves the Bronx on Sunday night. Everything will be fine. Someone might just tell him he effing stinks because they had one too many pinstripe pilsners.

On three separate days, a sect of the Yankees fanbase are going to let him hear it. It's just the nature of the beast. Soto helped the Bombers reached the World Series in 2024 during his lone year with the team, and then bolted for $5 million more guaranteed dollars (and an additional $40 million in incentives) to join an inferior organization. Scott Boras played his little game and won. Soto got his money. The Mets got their guy. The Yankees made it work. Everybody's moved on. It's truly all good.

That doesn't mean it all just "goes away" though. For the rest of time, Yankees fans (and baseball fans, really) will be left wondering what might've happened if Soto stayed with the Yankees. Does he go on a legendary run and lift them to multiple World Series? Do Soto and Aaron Judge become the one of the greatest duos of all time? Or would have Soto's contract been a giant, self-inflicted weight on the Yankees payroll that prevented them from upgrading a top-heavy lineup? We don't know. We will never know.

Ahead of Friday's series opener, though, Yankees fans were reminded why they were so upset when Soto left. And for some? That feeling lingers. Soto's comments on his return to Yankee Stadium hit home.

Juan Soto returns to the Bronx to face Yankees in Subway Series this weekend

Beneath the storylines focused on legacy, winning, loyalty, championships and anything else directly related to on-field production or success, perhaps the most important point is being overlooked as we've dumbed this discussion down to "Juan Soto left the big bad Yankees and now those entitled fans are crying about it." Did anybody ever think that Yankees fans loved Soto? That they were packing the stadium every night to see this guy? That he was a breath of fresh air in so many ways for an organization that's failed to reach the next level of contention during the Aaron Judge era? Because that's why so many fans were irrationally upset about his departure. In fact, some still are! To be clear, though we're obligated to speak on it, we do not feel this way. We were undoubtedly bummed and upset, but we aren't dwelling on it or cursing Soto and hoping he rues the day.

In the end, the Yankees fanbase was connected to Soto in many ways. His presence in the Bronx was beyond meaningful to the Dominican population, which makes up 25% of the borough. The cultural link was as strong as it could possibly be. Not since Robinson Canó did Dominican fans have that level of adoration for someone from their home country.

The way he embodies greatness and is fueled by competition are characteristics the city has been lacking when it comes to baseball for a good while now. Call Yankees fans entitled all you want, but they know a winner when they see one. And they worship winners. Winners can do no wrong in New York. Don't let that reality get lost as countless, less fortunate players get swallowed up by the criticism and vitriol. Winners of Soto's caliber are a rare breed, and elevating the Yankees' identity with the generational superstar was something a lot of fans were staking the next 10 years of their life on.

He also accompanied a down-to-earth personality with his otherworldly talent, which is the exact type of complete player New York unconditionally loves. He was great with the fans and couldn't have been more accommodating and candid with the media. There was a lot to feel good about. Mets fans have already gotten a taste, and they'll be over the moon when he goes on his first heater.

But anyway, when that first video of a drunk Yankee fan yelling "Soto, you absolutely ----- ------ ----!!!"" from the bleachers surfaces on social media, just remember, before you quote-tweet it and try to pretend you're the holiest fan on the planet, that there's a lot more nuance as to why that might be happening beyond the surface-level stuff you're probably consuming on the daily.