Yankees 'Hope' Juan Soto Returns to Lineup vs. Royals Amid Injury, Aaron Boone Says

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone hopes star right fielder Juan Soto will return to the starting lineup during the upcoming four-game series against the Kansas City Royals.

"I think he's gonna do his normal, get-ready-for-a-game routine, hopefully all that goes well and he'll maybe be an option for us, maybe off the bench, we'll see," Boone said before Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, per SNY.

When asked about Soto's potential return during the Royals series, Boone answered, "That's the hope."

The Yankees and Royals play on four consecutive days starting Monday in Kansas City.

Soto has been sidelined with forearm inflammation since exiting early from Thursday's game against the Minnesota Twins.

He had been the most consistent Yankees hitter through the first two-plus months of the season, slashing .318/.424/.603 with 46 walks and 17 home runs prior to the injury.

The Yankees' absence quickly faltered in Soto's absence. New York was held to four total runs as they dropped the first two games of their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday and Saturday.

The Yankees described Soto as "day-to-day" on Friday, per ESPN's Jorge Castillo. Boone has since repeatedly stated that he does not expect Soto to go on the injured list.

Soto has so far missed three straight games for the Yankees, his longest stretch out of an MLB lineup since he suffered back tightness in August 2022.

He then played the entire 2023 season for the San Diego Padres and started each of the Yankees' first 64 games of the 2024 campaign heading into Friday.

Despite that consistency, Soto reported that his forearm discomfort had been building for one and a half to two weeks prior to leaving the game against the Twins, per the Associated Press' Mike Fitzpatrick.

If unable to return during the series against the Royals, Soto could slot back into the lineup next weekend in Boston, as the Yankees remain on the road for a three-game series against the Red Sox.

Until Soto is able to resume his 1.027 OPS campaign, the Yankees will lean on fellow former Padre Trent Grisham to start in right field. The lefty hitter has recorded two hits, a home run and three RBI in three starts without Soto.