Juan Soto sends Yankees to World Series for first time in 15 years

The New York Yankees advance to the World Series for the first time since President Obama's first year in office.

On Saturday, Juan Soto hit a three-run home run, clinching the American League pennant for the Bronx for the first time since 2009. The 25-year-old superstar outfielder threw seven pitches and got two strikes against Cleveland Guardians pitcher Hunter Gaddis. , he hit a high fastball deep into center field. He watched the moment the ball left the bat with an unsteady expression on his face, wondering how far the ball would fly.

The ball sailed over the center field fence, giving the Yankees a 5-2 victory in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series and a 4-1 series victory.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The Cleveland crowd was three-quarters stunned into silence and a quarter chanting cruelly for the Yankees. Traveling Yankees fans continued to keep the Progressive Field crowd abuzz with chants of “Let's go Yankees!” long after the final out. It echoes through the quiet town and even as far away as Lake Erie in Ohio.

For Cleveland, this is another chapter in an infamous list of heartbreaking moments and a continuing trend of October's defeat to the Evil Empire.

Cleveland has lost to the Yankees four times in postseason series dating back to Aaron Judge's rookie season in 2017. That year, Cleveland was coming off a 102-win season, winning the American League pennant and having the longest winning streak in American League history. But then Cleveland, which was leading the series 2-0 in the ALDS, allowed the wild-card Yankees to win three straight.

Since then, the team has not been the same team. The Yankees defeated Cleveland again in the 2020 Wild Card Series and 2022 Division Series, denying Cleveland a World Series appearance. A name change was also forced at the time, so the franchise is literally not the same in terms of branding.

Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase is honored after making a save against the Yankees in the Arcus.

The New York Yankees hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning during Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on October 18, 2024. Giancarlo Stanton #27 responds. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

But for the Yankees, Saturday's victory is just another step in their high-stakes mission to win their 28th championship.

Soto, the night's hero, was traded last offseason with only one year left on his contract. Soto hit alongside Judge and Giancarlo Stanton this year, proving to be a game-changer for the Yankees' lineup. But the Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman knew they had to win this year for this trade to be worth it.

There's no guarantee he'll come back.

Soto could sign the richest contract in MLB history this offseason. He could have commanded such a contract even before hitting his signature home run on Saturday. Now the price could be even higher.

Soto and the Yankees will await the winner of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The New York Yankees celebrate after defeating the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the ALCS of the 2024 MLB Playoffs held at Progressive Field. Required Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images (SScott Galvin-Imagn image)

The Dodgers lead the series 3-2 and need just one more home win to earn a ticket to their 12th World Series against the historic Yankees. The Mets need two straight wins on the road to play their local rival in the Subway Series for the first time since 2000.

No matter who the Yankees play, the expectations will be the same. However, they will be hoping that this time, for the first time in a long time, the Yankee brand will live up to their expectations.

Follow sports coverage on Fox News Digital's X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.