SAN DIEGO -- Juan Soto thinks San Diego is a great city for any big leaguer to play for a long time.
It just didn't work out for him.
Soto returned to San Diego on Friday for the first time since the Padres dealt him to the New York Yankees on Dec. 7.
"My time in San Diego was great. It was unbelievable," Soto said before the AL East-leading Yankees, who at 35-17 have the second-best record in the majors, opened a weekend series against the Padres, who are 27-26 and 6 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.