What went right?
While 2018 was undeniably a disappointing season for the Washington Nationals, there were several promising developments.
When discussing the Nats’ 2018 season, Juan Soto has to be one of the first names mentioned. The 19-year-old began the season in Low-A ball, and finished the year as a household name. Widely regarded as the best teenage hitter ever, Soto slashed .292/.406/.517 with 22 homers and 70 RBI in 116 major league games.
If it weren’t for Braves’ phenom Ronald Acuna, Soto would be a lock for the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Regardless of who takes home the honor, both players have tremendous futures.
On the mound, Max Scherzer continued to defy Father Time. Now 34, Scherzer has reached the phase of his career where he should theoretically begin to decline. However, after winning two consecutive Cy Young Awards, the Nats’ ace will likely be a finalist once again.
Scherzer eclipsed the 200-inning mark for his sixth consecutive season, while also posting his second-best ERA and reaching 300 strikeouts for the first time in his career. It remains to be seen how long he can perform at this level, but his $210 million megadeal has proven to be a bargain thus far.
Scherzer, Harper, and Sean Doolittle continued their outstanding play in 2018, representing the Nats in the All-Star Game at Nationals Park.
Adam Eaton, Anthony Rendon, Trea Turner, Matt Grace, Wander Suero, and Greg Holland all also deserve recognition. Eaton had a nice bounce-back season after missing most of 2017; Rendon remained an under-the-radar superstar; Turner played in all 162 games, while continuing to establish himself as one of the best shortstops in the game; and Grace, Suero, and Holland all broke onto the scene with impressive seasons out of the bullpen.