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Yankees' Juan Soto Debuts Custom Cleats with LED Laces, NY Graphics for Home Debut

Julia StumbaughApril 5, 2024

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 03:  New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) makes contact during a MLB game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees on April 3, 2024, at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Juan Soto will wear custom New York City-themed cleats for his Yankees home debut.

The cleats feature the subway stop for Yankee Stadium, the city skyline and the words "SOTO ❤️ NEW YORK" as well as flashing LED laces.

Darren Rovell @darrenrovell

FIRST LOOK: Juan Soto's home opener cleats features Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium subway stop sign, SOTO ❤️ NEW YORK, a Broadway Playbill, a SOTO taxi cab and LED laces representing the bright lights.<br><br>Customs by <a href="https://twitter.com/stadiumck?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@stadiumck</a>. <a href="https://t.co/QQMCbNFcJv">pic.twitter.com/QQMCbNFcJv</a>

Soto will make his Yankee Stadium debut in pinstripes after helping the team start the season 6-1 on the road.

Soto has recorded 10 hits, including a double and a home run, and four RBI in his first seven games with the Yankees.

The Yankees traded for Soto in a blockbuster seven-player deal with the San Diego Padres in December.

Although Soto was reportedly in talks with the Padres about an extension prior to his trade to the Yankees, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, he has so far been pragmatic about being traded to his third team.

As Soto put it recently, that's in part a reaction to how his tenure with the Washington Nationals ended, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.

"You definitely love where you're at, you're definitely happy, excited with where you're going to be and how the team's going to be— but they show you you cannot fall in love, like I did with the Nationals," Soto said, per Gonzalez. "I was more than excited to be there, and they just cracked everything open and let me go."

The custom cleats, and their homage to New York, show that Soto is nonetheless excited for his tenure in the Bronx.

Soto's custom shoes were made by Stadium Custom Kicks.

Previous custom cleats debuted by Soto included a Under Armour Yard MT pair featuring his signature "Soto Shuffle" during his 2022 season with the Nationals:

Jomboy Media @JomboyMedia

Juan Soto has a silhouette of the Soto Shuffle on his cleats<br><br>That's tough 😤 <a href="https://t.co/tlq30NBuly">pic.twitter.com/tlq30NBuly</a>

Soto is currently set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Yankees fans will hope his custom shoes indicate he has some interest in staying in New York— and hopefully not for the cross-city rival Mets, who are reportedly intending to pursue Soto next offseason.