Superstar outfielder Juan Soto will spend his 26th birthday under the bright lights of Dodger Stadium on Friday night, as his New York Yankees face Los Angeles in Game 1 of the World Series.
Soto has the opportunity to make it a truly epic celebration as he looks to continue his strong postseason and build off his dramatic finish in New York’s ALCS victory against the Cleveland Guardians.
It won’t be the first time that the four-time All-Star gets to spend his birthday in the Fall Classic, either. Soto turned 21 during the 2019 World Series, which he won with the Washington Nationals.
Though Soto’s Nationals captured their first championship that fall, the team dropped Game 3 (his birthday game) against the Houston Astros on Oct. 25, 2019, by a score of 4-1.
While the Dominican had a huge output in the World Series, leading the team in runs scored (six), hits (nine), home runs (three) and walks (five), he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on his special day.
One of Soto’s Yankees teammates has an outside chance to join him in playing in this World Series on his birthday, as fellow outfielder Trent Grisham turns 28 on Nov. 1.
The series would have to last past all three contests in the Bronx on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, however, to set up a possible Game 6 on Grisham’s birthday. The two-time Gold Glover has yet to play for the Bronx Bombers this postseason, so it seems unlikely that he would get a chance to take the field the same day he celebrates his big day.
