The Washington Nationals’ (25-21) 10-21 victory over the San Diego Padres (20-29) focused on one player in particular: Rookie Juan Soto, who hit a home run in his major league debut.
In the second inning, Soto stepped to the plate for the first time in the Big Leagues and drove a 3-Run-Homerun against Pitcher Robbie Erlin over the fence in Left Field. The ball flew 442 feet at an exit velocity of 196.8 miles per hour according to Statcast (launch angle: 26 degrees).
“I didn’t think the ball would fly out of the park,” Soto said to his first home run. “I just ran fast, just like I always did in the Minor Leagues. Then I heard the noise and knew it was out.” Afterwards Soto even received a curtain call from the frenetic audience at Nationals Park.
Altogether Soto was 2-4 with three RBI (2 R) and celebrated a successful debut, which was not planned so early in the year. At 19, Soto is the youngest player in the Big Leagues and only had 31 At-Bats above Single-A-Ball. But after utility man Howie Kendrick tore his Achilles tendon at the weekend, need was at hand and Nationals appointed Soto to the 25-player squad. He had beaten .362 with 14 home runs in just 39 games this season in three Minor League increments.
“He’s a special player,” ennobled superstar Bryce Harper, who beat his 14th home run of the season. Harper was the last teenager to hit a home run in the MLB before Soto (September 2012). “We saw it in the Minor Leagues and then in jumping practice. So we’re all just excited that he’s here now and can help us. And we are all very proud of him and hope he will continue,” Harper continued.
Soto comes at just the right time, because besides Kendrick, Adam Eaton (ankle), Brian Goodwin (wrist) and the rookies Victor Robles (elbows) and Rafael Bautista (knees), numerous other outfielders are out of the game in the long run.
Soto comes from the Dominican Republic and was hired as an international amateur player in 2015 for a signing bonus of $1.5 million.
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This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.