On October 15 (KST), Juan Soto delivered a standout performance, leading the New York Yankees to a 5-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) at Yankee Stadium. Soto went 2-for-3 with a crucial solo home run, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, and a walk, showcasing his postseason prowess. Soto broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning, launching a 94.3 mph sinker from Cleveland starter Alex Cobb over the right-center field fence. The ball left the bat with a launch angle of 31 degrees, a velocity of 109.7 mph, and traveled 401 feet. It marked Soto’s eighth career postseason home run and his first of the 2023 playoffs. The Yankees capitalized on Cobb's control struggles shortly after Soto’s home run. Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Anthony Volpe drew consecutive walks to load the bases with two outs. Cleveland reliever Joey Cantillo’s two wild pitches allowed the Yankees to score two more runs and take a commanding lead. So far this postseason, Soto is hitting .353 with 6 hits, 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts over five games, resulting in an impressive OPS of 1.043. His regular season was equally stellar, finishing with a .288 batting average, 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, 128 runs, and a .989 OPS. This contrasts starkly with teammate Aaron Judge, who had an MVP-caliber season with a .322 average, 58 home runs, and 144 RBIs but has struggled in the playoffs, batting just over .100. Soto’s ability to rise to the occasion in big games has become a defining trait of his career. His breakout postseason performance came in 2019 when he helped lead the Washington Nationals to a World Series title. Soto hit .277 with 5 home runs, 14 RBIs, and a .927 OPS over 17 postseason games that year. In the World Series against the Houston Astros, he cemented his reputation as a "big game hitter" by batting .333 with 3 home runs and 7 RBIs across seven games, including a pivotal solo home run off Justin Verlander in Game 6 and a clutch RBI in Game 7. The New York Post highlighted Soto's brilliance in an article titled "Soto Still Unmatched by Opponents," emphasizing his early rise to stardom at just 21 years old. "During the 2019 World Series, he hit .333 with 3 home runs and was considered a strong MVP candidate alongside Steven Strasburg," the article noted. "Soto played with an extraordinary level of poise, delivering key contributions daily, as if he were a seasoned veteran." Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Soto after the game, stating, "It’s not surprising. This is what he’s done all year. Today’s performance showed everyone who he really is." Starting pitcher Carlos Rodón, who threw six innings with nine strikeouts and allowed just one run, added, "He lifted us today. Soto led the charge." Regarding his third-inning home run off Cobb, Soto explained, "I was familiar with that pitch. He threw it to me a couple of times, and I was prepared. I just wanted to hit it hard, and it worked." Meanwhile, Soto's popularity was on full display in the right-field stands of Yankee Stadium, where a fan held a sign reading, "Offer Soto $600 million!" in an attempt to grab the outfielder’s attention. The New York Daily News reported, "John Mudry, a fan who attended the ALCS Game 1 with his wife, held up the sign all game, hoping Soto would notice and consider staying with the Yankees long-term." Soto expressed his gratitude for the gesture, saying, "I really appreciate that kind of offer. Let’s see what happens at the end of the season."