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

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

Juan Soto hit a three-run home run Saturday to return the American League pennant to the Bronx for the first time since 2009. The 25-year-old superstar outfielder worked seven pitches against Cleveland Guardians pitcher Hunter Gaddis, and with two strikes. , hit a high fastball to deep center field. He watched with an unsteady face as he put down his bat, seeing how far he was going to go.

And then he landed over the center field fence to give 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 crowd in Cleveland was three-quarters stunned into silence, and one-quarter chanted mercilessly for the Yankees. Those traveling Yankees fans kept the Progressive Field crowd loud and boisterous long after the final out, as they chanted “Go Yankees!” echoing in an otherwise silent city, in the distance of Ohio's Lake Erie.

For Cleveland, it's another chapter in an infamous list of heartbreaking moments and a continuing trend of October defeat to the evil empire.

Cleveland has lost four postseason series to the Yankees since 2017, Aaron Judge's rookie season. That year, Cleveland was coming off its own American League pennant, a 102-win season, and had the longest winning streak in American League history under its belt. But then, with a 2-0 series lead in the ALDS, Cleveland let the Yankees win three in a row.

The team hasn't been the same since. The Yankees beat Cleveland again in the 2020 wild card series, the 2022 division series, and have now denied the city a World Series appearance. The franchise literally hasn't been the same, brand-wise, as it was also forced to change its name at that time.

GUARDIANS CLOSER EMMANUEL CLASE SHOWS PRAISE RIGHT AFTER SAVING THE YANKEES IN THE ALCS

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

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

Soto, the hero of the night, was traded last offseason with only one year left on his contract. Soto has proven to transform the power of the Yankees' lineup this year, hitting alongside Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. But the Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman knew they had to win him this year to make the trade worth it.

There is no guarantee that he will return.

Soto could get the richest contract in MLB history next offseason. He could have gotten that kind of contract even before he hit Saturday's signature home run. Now, the price could be even higher.

Now Soto and the Yankees will wait for the winner of the National League Championship series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The New York Yankees celebrate after beating the Cleveland Guardians during game five of the American League Championship Series for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images (Images by SScott Galvin-Imagn)

The Dodgers lead the series 3-2 and could punch their ticket to their 12th World Series against the Yankees in their shared history with one more home win. The Mets would need to win two in a row on the road to face their local rival in the first Subway Series since 2000.

No matter who the Yankees play, the expectation will be the same. But they hope this time they will live up to the expectations of the Yankee brand for the first time in too long.

Follow Fox News Digital sports coverage in Xand subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.