Washington Nationals: Juan Soto has impressive first 162 major league games

Over what would be his first major league season, Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto has put together an impressive start to his career.

One could be forgiven if there was some skepticism surrounding the Washington Nationals decision to promote Juan Soto to the majors last season. After all, he was just 19 years old, and had played only eight games above A-ball. However, Soto hit the ground running, hammering the ball and forcing the Nationals to immediately make him a part of the every day lineup.

Now that he has played in 162 career games, or the equivalent of a full season, one can truly see how well he has performed early on. That first full season has been quite impressive.

Soto had a phenomenal rookie season for anyone, let alone a 19 year old. After being promoted to the majors on May 20, he produced a .292/.406/.517 batting line, hitting 22 homers and 25 doubles. Over his 494 plate appearances, Soto struck out just 99 times while drawing 79 walks. He proved to be more than ready for the majors.

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Although this season has not been quite to the same level, Soto has not had a large falloff. Through Wednesday’s action, he had a .291/.394/.523 batting line, hitting nine homers and 11 doubles in 203 plate appearances. His strikeout rate has ticked up, striking out 51 times, but he has continued to be a force in the middle of the Nationals lineup.

As it stands, Soto is one of the keys to the Nationals lineup this season. He and Anthony Rendon have been the only regulars to be a threat for Washington, further explaining their disappointing season. With Rendon slated for free agency at the end of the season, a lot more could be riding on Soto’s bat in the coming years.

If the first 162 games are any indication, he will be ready for that challenge. Soto has already made his mark as one of the top young players in the game, and could be a stellar run producer for the foreseeable future. As the Nationals look to remain in playoff contention, or to get back to the postseason given their struggles this year, Soto will be a key part of that future.

Juan Soto has had a great start to his career. The Washington Nationals certainly hope it continues.