Juan Soto gushes over Yankees fans amid free agency speculation

Yankees outfielder Juan Soto is enjoying the early-season love affair with the New York fan base that hopes he'll become more than a short-term rental. 

"They’ve been showing love every day and it’s been amazing, day in and day out, and in the entire game," Soto said about Yankees fans, per NJ.com's Randy Miller. "It’s been pretty cool." 

Soto joined the Yankees from the San Diego Padres in December via trade and, as of Tuesday, has played in only four home games with his current club. In the fourth inning of Monday's blowout, the 25-year-old, on track to reach free agency this coming fall, hit his first Yankee Stadium home run of the season. 

"I knew I hit it pretty good," Soto said about his blast. "I was like, 'It’s going to go, it’s going to stay [fair.]' But then when that ball landed, they just jumped out of their seats. You feel pretty good." 

Across his first 11 regular-season games with the Yankees, Soto has posted a .357 batting average with two homers, 10 RBI and a 1.009 OPS. Perhaps more importantly, he's seemingly embraced playing alongside team captain Aaron Judge and others while helping the Yankees climb to the top of the American League standings. 

"I would call it a family," Soto said about what he's experienced this spring. "We all feel like a family right now and it’s only 11 games. We already feel like we’re sticking together, we’re pushing together. We all want the same thing. That’s how I would describe it." 

Miller was sure to point out there's no sign Soto will give the Yankees any kind of "discount" either during the season or shortly after the World Series concludes. It ultimately could cost Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner over $500M to hold onto Soto, but he may be hoping the slugger's bond with paying customers could cause him to leave some money on the table. 

Miller mentioned how Soto "turns back to wave" to fans throughout home contests and how the three-time All-Star nearly missed the first pitch of Monday's game while signing autographs in right field. 

"When they’re giving you a lot of love, you have to give love back," Soto added about Yankees fans, according to the New York Post's Christian Arnold and Dan Martin.