When AJ Preller informed Juan Soto that he had been traded to the Yankees, the Padres general manager reached out to the smitten 25-year-old.
“I was actually playing Nintendo with a friend when I got that call,” Soto said during an introductory Zoom call in December. “One of my hobbies is playing video games and having fun with friends.”
Perhaps Soto was using the console to distract himself from the trade rumors that have been swirling since the end of the 2023 season and during winter meetings. But the slugger doesn't always turn to video games to escape baseball.
Three-time All-Star selection thinks MLB: The ShowThe PlayStation classic is his favorite game. Then came the big surprise.
But instead of hitting home runs as a digital version of himself, Soto prefers the challenge of enthralling real-life pitchers.
“I like to face myself and beat him,” Soto told the Daily News with a laugh. “Unless I'm winning by a huge margin! If I'm winning by a huge margin, I'll put the ball in the middle so my opponent can hit it and feel good about himself.”
The left-handed swinger, known for his elite ability to control the zone, added that he finds it easier to K in video games than in major league games.
Soto did not reveal the sequence that led to the strikeout, fearing that it would provide useful information to pitchers who would have to face him in action.
“I can't give you that!” His tone was comical and serious at the same time.
So The News decided to ask the Yankees' undisputed video game expert what they would do to release Soto.
“in spectacle, show, play?I don't know,'' Tommy Kahnle said. “But in real life, the first time I played against him, he grabbed me. I didn't really know who he was. I knew he was still young and a promising kid. Then he hit me off the wall with the first fastball. And the next at-bat was a playoff. Three changeups, a strikeout!”
Kahnle was grateful to no longer have to face Soto on the mound and reasoned that Soto would probably attack him as well. spectacle, show, play If only he pitched like himself. After all, his changeup is his best weapon.
Speaking of weapons, baseball isn't Soto's only hobby.he also plays call of duty, Although not as much as before.
“I'm not participating [Blake] Snell level,” Soto said, referring to his former Padres teammate and famous Twitch streamer. “He’s so damn good, it was good, but he stopped playing a little bit and changed the game.
“I'm no good right now. I haven't played in a while.”
It's rare to hear Soto say he's bad at something, but COD isn't the only game where this applies to him. He said FIFA is “the game I hate the most.”
“I like to play everything,” Soto said, adding that NBA 2K is also in his rotation. “I tell my players that I play everything. I'm average at everything. I'm not particularly good, but I'm average.”
At this point, some Yankees fans may be worried that Soto is spending too much time playing video games.
However, I will not take them to the clubhouse. Rather, it's an activity reserved for the end of the workday when Soto returns home or to his hotel.
“When I'm here, I'm focused on one thing and that's how do we figure out a way to win games,” he said. I don't think bringing video games into the clubhouse is a good idea. I don't know, but it might work for others. I don't know, but it helps reduce stress. ”
Kahnle takes a markedly different approach.
While the winter months help relief pitchers' young children kick their video game habits, baseball's long season provides plenty of down time. Kahnle often spends his time carrying a suitcase-like gaming station. When folded open, the top half houses your TV and the bottom half houses your PlayStation, controllers, games, and other accessories.
During the season, Kahnle can often be seen playing this system in front of his locker before games. It's as much a road trip essential as his favorite glove and a favorite on team flights.
“I think we do it almost every day during the regular season. We started doing that in 2017,” Kahnley said. “Then I was doing more of it in the back room. Now I'm kind of gravitating towards my locker because I'm too lazy to walk up there. For me, it takes my mind off the game. I think so. You don't always think about baseball.”
Although Soto doesn't want to play in the clubhouse like Kahnle does, saying he won't be tempted by his teammates, he takes the video game seriously.
Soto wears a headset so he can talk to friends and other gamers online and has been using a customized Yankees controller since the trade. The controller is half navy blue and half pinstripe. Complete with his number 22, the words “Soto Shuffle” and a silhouette of his signature move in the batter's box.
Juan Soto has a custom Yankees PS5 controller. This is wonderful. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/tHJTg6VbFL
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) February 18, 2024
Soto said the controller was provided by SCUF Gaming, a company that specializes in this kind of thing for professional gamers.
He said the company planned to make him the Nationals' controller when he played for the team, but Washington traded him to San Diego in 2022 before SCUF could finish the job. Soto received a Padres controller instead.
There's probably recency bias, but Soto said the Yankees' controller was “one of the best controllers I've ever had.” The question now is whether it will be his last.
“I don't know,” the soon-to-be free agent said with a smile. “Let's take a look.”
