Washington Nationals prospect Juan Soto is on a tear for the Potomac Nationals. What can Nats fans expect from the youngster, and when will we see him?
Over the last few weeks, the most talked about player, not on the major league roster, in the Washington Nationals organization is Juan Soto. And despite not having played above Single-A before this season, he could begin a rapid ascension through the system.
After a year of injury woes, Soto started the year where he finished 2017, with the Hagerstown Suns in Single-A. In 16 games there, he smacked five home runs in just 16 games with a .373 average and absurd 1.300 OPS.
After a promotion to the High-A Potomac Nationals, he continues to shine. Seven home runs, a .371 average and 1.256 OPS. To put that OPS figure in perspective, he hit a home run in Wednesday’s game and it went down a few points. All this means that he may not be with the P-Nats for a long time.
He’s got one of best hit tools in the whole of the minor leagues right now, as his career batting average sits pretty at .365. But he’s really taking a step forward with his power stroke this season.
Usually one of the last elements of a young player’s game to develop, his ability to hit for extra bases could accelerate his ascension through the minors.
When Anthony Rendon was on a rehab assignment in Potomac, Juan Soto managed to out-shine the Nats third-baseman. Rendon is not a man of many words, but he did have one word about how impressive Soto is:
Rendon on Juan Soto: “That man is the TRUTH.”
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) May 5, 2018
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When will we see Juan Soto in D.C.?
It’s gotten to the point where fans are clamoring after the young star in the making to be in the bigs this season.
That still seems extremely unlikely given he’ll need to show some sustained success in the upper reaches of the minor leagues first. However getting to DC by 2019 appears to be a realistic goal.
When estimating his ETA, although the Nationals have Victor Robles as a good yardstick, he didn’t quite tear it up as much as Soto is this season.
But within the division, there may be a more appropriate comparison. That would be Atlanta Braves super prospect Ronald Acuña Jr.
Acuña really broke out in 2017, and rose through the minor league system at a sonic pace. He began the year at High-A with the Florida Fire Frogs, a level above where Soto began this year.
He then shot all the way up to Triple-A with the Gwinnett Braves by the end of last year, continuing to hit well at each level.
So by this timeline, we should expect Soto to stick around in Potomac until around to mid-season to ensure he really has conquered High-A. Then finishing the year out at Double-A with the Harrisburg Senators.
Then 2019 is the year to watch for him. The Nationals in past have had top prospects either only stay briefly or not at all in Triple-A. Robles skipped it all together last season, Rendon only had a three game stint before his first big league call-up.
So where he starts in 2019 likely won’t be a factor in preventing him playing at Nationals Park that season.
Obviously, all of this is contingent on him continuing his quest to demolish baseball wherever he plays. While everything he does is incredible in his brief career, plenty of prospects have looked good in the lower levels, only to regress as they move up the ladder.
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Regardless of how fast he gets there, Juan Soto is certainly one of the reasons Mike Rizzo believes no matter where the impending free agents end up, this team will compete. And should Bryce Harper leave, Victor Robles and Soto are there to receive the baton.