On December 6, 2023, the New York Yankees made a deal with the San Diego Padres to acquire Juan Soto in the offseason's blockbuster deal. On October 19, 2024, Soto took the Yankees back to the World Series for the first time in 15 years with a huge blow.

Tied by two in the 10th inning, the Yankees started a rally with a one-out walk to Austin Wells. Alex Verdugo hit a grounder to second so the Guardians couldn't put the ball in the basket in time, but instead pushed it into the air, giving the Yankees first and second with one out. Gleyber Torres came next but retired after four pitches, bringing Soto to the plate with two ons and two outs – a situation that's about as important to a hitter as it can be, perhaps one of the best postseason bats in MLB history.

Hunter Gaddis started it with a slider inside for ball one. Gaddis moved another slider just high enough for his second pitch to reach the strike zone and equalize the count. The next four pitches were a mix of changeups and sliders that Soto fought with all his might to avoid the foul and continue the strike, all in the strike zone. Then came pitch seven, the first four-seater that Soto saw arrive at the top of the zone at 95 miles per hour. Soto got his bat through well enough to give this offering the following:

Soto knew it as soon as he saw it fly off his bat, even as the rest of us watching at home still watched anxiously as Lane Thomas drifted back to center field, slowly running out of space. He watched it start, turned to the Yankee dugout and celebrated with his teammates. He then completed the formality of trotting around the bases to cap off his go-ahead three-run home run.

The Guardians were in trouble from the moment Soto took charge, and he made them pay. Before that at-bat, only Giancarlo Stanton could lay claim to that honor because he tied the game with a two-run pitch in the sixth inning. Soto had done more than his part to boost the offense in regulation, going 2-for-4 with a double, making him one of two Yankees to score multiple hits in the game. However, his rocket straight down the middle sealed the deal and sealed this series for good. Luke Weaver was already on the mound holding the tie at the end of the ninth, and he made quick work of Cleveland in the 10th to give them no chance to challenge the lead Soto had earned.

The Yankees paid a king's ransom to put Soto in pinstripes for this season, knowing they would only get one guaranteed shot with him before he hit free agency. They had to make the most of this season, back it up with talent across the squad to ensure they could create a moment like this, and then trust the superstar to deliver when they needed it most. They held up their end of the deal, and then Soto did the same. The Yankees are headed to the World Series and they have Juan Soto to thank for taking them the final step there.