923 OPS that would've ranked third in the National League - behind two guys named Yelich and Arenado - except he was eight plate appearances shy of qualifying. In 116 games with the Nationals, the powerful lefty hit 22 homers. That isn't the only thing Soto crushed last year. "It's one of the hardest I've hit," said Soto, who grazed the roof not once but twice while playing an All-Star exhibition series in Japan in November. It looked like it was going to travel 500 feet but instead hit the roof of the Tokyo Dome and was called a ground-rule double. Instead, they home in on the ball he demolished in Japan. But that's not what people talk about when they talk about Soto's offseason. Not surprisingly, defense and speed were points of emphasis this offseason for Soto, who spent most of the winter in his hometown of Santo Domingo, where he worked out with Mariners outfielder Domingo Santana and top Nats prospect Victor Robles. A guy who, prior to last season, had never played left field (he played exclusively right in the minors) and who accounted for minus-5 defensive runs saved as a rookie (among qualified left fielders, only Rhys Hoskins ranked lower). A guy who isn't blessed with great wheels and whose minor league teammates nicknamed him "El Gamba" (Spanish for bowlegged). It's a lofty objective for a guy who has always been known for his stick. "Win a Gold Glove," he said, when asked his individual goals. The type of player Soto wants to be is the kind who gets noticed for his leather as much as his lumber. Hopefully continue his success into the season and show us what type of player he's really going to continue to be." Not quite as speedy as Mike Trout, but he does a lot of similar things that Mike does. "I see a lot of those same similarities in Juan coming in every day, playing the game, plays it at a high level. "I played with another guy that was just like that, and his name was Mike Trout," said Kendrick, who spent four years playing alongside Trout on the Angels. He isn't the only one who has mentioned Soto's name in proximity to the Millville Meteor. If you're scoring at home, yes, Turner just compared his young teammate - who cracked the top 50 in ESPN's MLB Rank after just one season, finishing 35th, ahead of established stars such as George Springer and Anthony Rizzo - to two of the game's best players. He's in that category of expecting great things from him." Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, all these unbelievable players are expected to be that good, each and every year. 342 as a rookie in 2016, when he finished second in the ROY balloting. "If you play well, people expect good things out of you," said Nationals shortstop Trea Turner, who hit. Waiting there for him was a locker with a name plate - and, of course, expectations. Nine months later, he was cordially invited to West Palm for his first spring training. But he mashed to open 2018 and, after veteran Howie Kendrick suffered an Achilles injury in mid-May, he was called up directly from Double-A. 2 prospect in the Nats organization, and the most recent work experience on his résumé was 23 games in Class A to finish the 2017 season. "I don't feel any pressure," the 20-year-old said while standing in front of his spring training locker at the Nats complex.Ī year ago, Soto wasn't in big league camp. Suddenly, he's the face of the outfield - and the heart of the lineup - on a Nationals team trying to conquer a stacked NL East and prove that there is, in fact, life after Bryce Harper. What's more, now that a certain superstar and his big bat have moved just up the road to Philly, Soto is being counted on to do even more. ![]() ![]() But that was then, and this is now.įollowing a freshman campaign that, were it not for Atlanta's Ronald Acuna Jr., would have made him the runaway Rookie of the Year, Soto isn't sneaking up on anyone. Over the next four and a half months, he wrecked big league pitching and developed a habit of doing things few, if any, teenagers before him had accomplished. Due to injuries in D.C., he was rushed to the majors after just eight games above Class A. Last May, Soto exploded onto the scene as a 19-year-old outfielder with the Washington Nationals. If you think Juan Soto is feeling pressure, think again. Life after Harper? Juan Soto can be what Bryce was. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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