Graham Ashcraft on Impersonating Juan Soto's Celebration Following Strikeout

Originally posted on Cincinnati Reds on SI
By James Rapien | Last updated Dec 12, 2023 8:02 AM ET

The Padres traded Juan Soto to the Yankees last week. He's one of baseball's biggest stars.

He's also known for his shuffle celebration.

Reds starter Graham Ashcraft did the "Soto Shuffle" after striking out the 25-year-old during Cincinnati's 7-5 win over the Padres in June.

"They [his teammates] were dying laughing," Ashcraft said when asked about it on MLB Network. "I feel like me and Soto always have a great battle when we go up against each other. You always see it when you throw a ball when he picks it up and he knows it's a ball. He always gives you the shuffle. And so I told my guys 'I'm gonna punch him out one day and I'm gonna give it back to him, it just so happened to be that at-bat."

Watch the entire interview below:

The @Reds have one of the most promising young rotations in the game.

RHP Graham Ashcraft joined us on #MLBNHotStove to talk through the dynamic amongst the pitching staff and more. pic.twitter.com/3JcnbAWMXC
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 7, 2023