Summer 2025 is shaping up to be a thrilling season for sports in the Big Apple, as "Bing Bong" energy has culminated from multiple directions.
Not only are the New York Knicks appearing in the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in a quarter century, but the New York Yankees (27-19) and New York Mets (29-18) — both leading their respective divisions — just wrapped up a contentious Subway Series over the weekend.
Major League Baseball's inaugural "Rivalry Weekend" brought all the adversity in the Bronx, especially toward Mets outfielder Juan Soto.
Of course, Soto was a member of last year's AL pennant-winning Yankee team. However, the Dominican slugger elected to sign in Queens during the recent offseason, making Friday his first visit back to the short porch in right field.
Not only did the raucous Yankee Stadium crowd scream at the Metropolitans' high-priced right fielder without relent, but on Sunday, one particular player in pinstripes made supporters in the Bronx overjoyed to have gone a different direction in regards to Soto.
Former-MVP Cody Bellinger joined the Yankees for 2025 (via trade) after eight campaigns in the National League. Bellinger used last night to produce his pinnacle moment in pinstripes so far by launching a cascading two-out grand slam in the eighth inning of Sunday's rubber match off Mets pitcher Ryne Stanek, providing the Yanks with an 8-2 insurance policy.
Ironically, the lefty's slam sailed into the right-field bleachers, leaving Soto looking directly up at the homer. It was all part of a 3-3, 6 RBI outing for Bellinger.
The novelty of the eighth-inning blast to the "Bleacher Creatures" was noticed by Yankee media members and fans alike. Jake Asman of 880 ESPN New York wrote on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter), "Fitting that the guy that replaced Soto hits the grand slam over his head to ice the game for the Yankees..."
Baseball is Dead by Underdog added to a screenshot of ESPN's broadcast with a young Yankee fan holding Bellinger's home-run ball, captioned, "Chirping Soto after Bellinger hits a Grand Slam with your son holding the ball >."
As noted, the Bronx Bombers won Sunday by a score of 8-2, taking the first Subway Series of 2025 along with it. Meanwhile, Bellinger — who plays left field for New York — is playing solidly behind a .342 weighted on-base average (per FanGraphs).
On May 19, Belli is second on the team in RBI (28), fifth in home runs (7) and fourth in total runs scored (25). Compared to $765-million Soto, Bellinger also features more defensive flexibility and far, far less investment.
The Yankees are idle before resuming action on Tuesday at home versus the Texas Rangers (7:05 p.m. ET).
The Mets will make the short trip north to visit the Boston Red Sox for a Monday matchup. Projected starters are Kodai Senga and Hunter Dobbins; first pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. ET.
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