Juan Soto Replaced by Brandon Nimmo in ESPN Subway Series Broadcast

Juan Soto's return to Yankee Stadium during the Subway Series drew significant attention, including loud boos from Yankees fans both at his introduction and during his at-bat. Originally slated to be mic’d up for ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball to discuss Aaron Judge's standout season, Soto abruptly withdrew about 45 minutes before game time, leading to Brandon Nimmo replacing him for the interview. The last-minute switch was notable but sources indicated such changes are not unusual. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza praised Soto's improved base running, highlighting a key stolen base during the series that contributed to a Mets victory. Despite Soto's solid performance in the first two games of the series, the hostile New York environment was acknowledged by Mets manager Aaron Boone as a challenge Soto may face throughout his tenure. ESPN and sports reporters confirmed the change without citing specific reasons, noting the network’s original plan to focus on Soto's perspective regarding Judge’s historic season milestones.