### Juan Soto Faces Icy Yankee Stadium Return as Mets Fall 6-2

On Friday, Juan Soto made a dramatic return to Yankee Stadium, where he encountered a hostile reception from the crowd. Now playing for the New York Mets, Soto's homecoming was marked by loud boos and jeers as he and his team suffered a 6-2 defeat against the New York Yankees.

As soon as Soto approached the plate for his first at-bat in the opening inning, the stadium erupted in boos. Undeterred, Soto smiled, removed his helmet, and waved to the crowd before stepping up to bat. Yet the hostile atmosphere intensified when he headed to right field, with the notorious Bleacher Creatures, a segment of die-hard Yankees fans, turning their backs on him. Some fans went further by holding up derogatory signs and wearing offensive T-shirts.

In the eighth inning, Soto caught a fly ball hit by Cody Bellinger, ending the inning. He then tossed the ball into the stands in a celebratory gesture, only for a fan to throw it back onto the field, much to the amusement of those nearby.

After the game, Soto commented on the loud and harsh reception he received. When asked if it was the worst booing he had ever encountered, he acknowledged, "I think so, they were really loud." Despite the negativity, Soto maintained his focus on the game, stating, "It's really uncomfortable that we couldn't get the win. It's just another game. You've got to focus and be a professional. It sucks we lost the game, but we have two more to win the series."

Despite his efforts, Soto had little impact on the game, ending the night 0-for-2 with three walks and a run. His return to Yankee Stadium was always anticipated to be emotionally charged, given that he previously formed a powerful partnership with Aaron Judge, which helped lead the Yankees to the World Series last season. Soto's departure to the Mets came last December when he signed a groundbreaking 15-year, $765 million contract, reportedly the largest in professional sports history.

The Mets' manager, Carlos Mendoza, had anticipated the reaction and advised Soto to embrace the situation. "I thought the crowd was very respectful. You can boo all you want as long as you're not crossing the line," Mendoza said. He praised Soto's handling of the situation, stating, "That's what makes this guy who he is, elite. His personality is off the charts."

Meanwhile, the Yankees took control of the game with four runs in the third inning, maintaining their lead throughout and securing the victory.