Washington Nationals: How Juan Soto stacks up to Rookie of the Year field

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WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 21: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals follows his two RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles in the eighth inning at Nationals Park on June 21, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Juan Soto has taken the baseball world by storm even while the Washington Nationals struggle. Can he win the NL Rookie of the Year award?

Washington Nationals rookie outfielder Juan Soto has been the toast of the town since arriving in D.C. towards the end of May.

In 33 games and 129 plate appearances, Soto is batting .318/.436/.564 with 15 extra-base hits.

His opposite-field power and success against lefties (1.250 OPS) have been astonishing, but his much-ballyhooed patience at 19 years old is what really sets him apart. Soto’s 17.3 percent walk rate ranks 10th among all MLBers with at least 120 plate appearances.

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At his current blistering pace, Soto would be just the fifth rookie since 2010 to post an OPS over 1.000 (Aaron Judge, Rhys Hoskins, Matt Olson, and Gary Sanchez). We could see the rest of the league make an adjustment to Soto at the plate soon, but he is currently hitting as well as anyone in the NL.

But as with every 19-year-old, even the best ones come with some rough edges. For Soto, that happens to be his defense. In just over a month, Soto has already collected minus-4 defensive runs saved.

Advanced fielding stats can be pretty volatile, but Soto also fails to pass the eye test. He has had trouble judging line drives over his head, and even when he makes the catch, he looks a little unsteady gathering himself under fly balls.

Still, Juan Soto’s meteoric rise from Single-A to the majors in less than two months is incredibly rare. The Nats will definitely live with some defensive issues for now, especially while he feasts on opposing pitchers.

Here are several other candidates competing for the NL Rookie of the Year award and how they compare to the Nats’ wunderkind.

LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 23: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning of a game against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium on April 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

SP Walker Buehler, Los Angeles

9 starts, 51.1 IP, 2.63 ERA

Buehler, who turns 24 in July, was one of the Dodgers’ most consistent performers this season until he went down with a microfracture in his rib cage earlier this month.

The Dodgers’ former top prospect is striking out nearly 9.5 batters per nine innings and has paired it with a minuscule walk rate (1.93 BB/9). In fact, Buehler currently sits eighth in the NL with a 4.9 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Buehler – with a heater that hovers at 96 mph – ranks third in the NL in average fastball velocity, and is capable of touching 99 on the radar gun. Opponents are batting just .180 off the pitch so far this season. He ranks second among rookies with a 1.7 WAR, just ahead of Juan Soto’s 1.3 and slightly behind Brian Anderson’s 2.1.

Soto didn’t get called up until May 20, and now has his own playing time issues with Bryce Harper, Adam Eaton, and Michael Taylor also vying for outfield time. But in the NL Rookie of the Year race, Buehler won’t be able to build a case based on playing time, though he could return to the mound sometime next week.

Because of his youth and injury history, Buehler is already approaching his career-high in innings pitched for a season. In 2017, he threw 98 total innings across four levels of the Dodgers organization. This year, Buehler has tossed 64.1 innings in Triple-A and the majors. He might not be long for the rotation if the Dodgers ponder a shutdown scenario.

Despite their rookie status, Soto and Buehler are two of the best players on otherwise underperforming teams. Comparing pitchers to outfielders is apples to oranges, but the RoY vote could come down to whoever is still playing come September.

In that situation, Soto seems like a better bet to both remain healthy and earn consistent opportunities late in the year.

ATLANTA, GA – MAY 16: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after their 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs at SunTrust Park on May 16, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

OF Ronald Acuna, Atlanta

29 games, .265/.326/.453, 5 HRs

Acuna is another star rookie who will be unable to capitalize on Juan Soto’s late start to the season. The Braves did not promote their outfielder until April 25, and then he missed nearly all of June after injuring his knee in Boston. Atlanta activated Acuna from the disabled list on Thursday.

When Acuna has been able to play, he has quickly proven himself to be one of the most exciting players in the NL. He has posted a crisp 112 OPS+ with 12 extra-base hits in 29 games, and can absolutely crank the ball a country mile.

His five home runs have traveled a stupid 425 feet on average, and his 93.6 mph exit velocity would rank 11th in the bigs if he had enough batted balls to qualify.

Acuna also has a narrative pushing his award case forward, as the youthful Braves excel as one of baseball’s best storylines of the year. (It remains to be seen whether that’s a more interesting narrative than Soto tearing up the league at age 19 though).

But even as a budding star on a first-place team in the Nats’ own division, Acuna still sits behind Soto in the Rookie of the Year field.

Neither player has made a positive impact defensively, and Soto’s bat clearly outpaces Acuna’s right now. In roughly the same number of plate appearances, Soto has tallied 21 walks and 24 whiffs to Acuna’s 10 free passes and 37 strikeouts.

Things could change if Soto slumps, Acuna goes on a tear, and the Braves hold off the Washington Nationals. But until then, Atlanta’s three-and-a-half game lead in the standings is not enough to make up for Juan Soto’s outstanding offensive performance.

MIAMI, FL – JUNE 26: Brian Anderson #15 of the Miami Marlins dives back to first base in the seventh inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park on June 26, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

OF/3B Brian Anderson, Miami

81 games, .297/.374/.416, 4 HRs

Amidst the black hole that is Marlins baseball, Anderson has emerged as a bright light in his rookie campaign. Miami’s eighth-ranked prospect last year has burst onto the scene with a 123 OPS+, and now leads all NL rookies in WAR (2.1).

Since April 30, Anderson has been even better, batting .321/.380/.458 in 54 games. But even isolating Anderson’s hot streak keeps him in Juan Soto’s rearview mirror. No rookie is even close to the Nats’ 19-year-old with the bat right now.

There are two areas where Anderson can make up ground on Soto: defense and playing time. Naturally a third baseman, Anderson has split time between the hot corner and right field this season for Miami and performed adequately in both spots.

While the Washington Nationals have to get creative with the rest of the defensive lineup to accommodate Soto, the Marlins have plenty of flexibility with Anderson.

Anderson, 25, also started the season in the big leagues and has earned over twice as many plate appearances as Soto. His counting stats – specifically in runs and RBIs – are both well ahead of Soto’s, and he holds a 0.8-advantage in WAR.

Earning an Opening Day roster spot is an accomplishment for Anderson, but his counting stats are not good enough to top Soto’s rate numbers. Soto provides more power, a better average, a premier walk rate, and similar strikeout numbers. Heck, by the end of the season, there is a decent chance Soto will catch Anderson in traditional numbers across the board; he already has more homers.

Anderson’s defensive superiority is a legitimate boon for his Rookie of the Year candidacy, but as always, Juan Soto’s bat carries the day here. It also doesn’t help that Miami is buried under irrelevance or that the Marlins’ Anderson still isn’t the most famous Brian Anderson in baseball.

PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 29: Austin Meadows #17 of the Pittsburgh Pirates scores on a RBI double in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on May 29, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

OF Austin Meadows, Pittsburgh

34 games, .314/.346/.525, 5 HRs

Meadows immediately took off at the plate following his call-up, which coincidentally came just two days before Juan Soto got his first crack at the majors. Meadows recorded 7 multi-hit performances in his first 10 starts, including three homers and two doubles in a four-game span against San Diego and Cincinnati.

Since that initial tear, though, Meadows has struggled to consistently reach base, and has posted only a .657 OPS in his last 23 games. Patience is the main culprit for his offensive struggles; his 4.7 percent walk rate ranks 287th out of 319 players with at least 120 plate appearances.

Meadows showed decent plate discipline in the minors, so this is likely just an adjustment period, but it certainly puts him a step behind Soto who has seemingly mastered the major league strike zone already.

Meadows figures to be a much better defender than Soto in time, but right now they are equally inept in the outfield. The young Buc has quickly turned in minus-5 defensive runs saved in 34 games.

While Juan Soto maintained his elite level at the plate after his blazing hot start, Meadows has tapered off. He also isn’t consistent enough in the other areas of the game to truly compete for the Rookie of the Year award – unless he gets red hot with the bat again.

MILWAUKEE, WI – JUNE 26: Freddy Peralta #51 of the Milwaukee Brewers walks to the dugout during the seventh inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals at Miller Park June 26, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

P Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee

4 starts, 22.2 IP, 1.59 ERA

Peralta has been nearly untouchable in four starts with the Brewers, allowing zero runs in three of those outings. He doesn’t throw exceptionally hard (91.5 mph), but he has already generated 25 strikeouts with his fastball. Overall, he has a 13.9 strikeout rate, which is tops among starting pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched.

Peralta was an unheralded prospect (no. 9 in the Brewers’ system), but his small-sample dominance in the majors thus far might be relatively sustainable. His 1.78 FIP backs up his sterling ERA, as does his 2.66 ERA across three minor league levels from 2017-18.

P Jack Flaherty, St. Louis

11 starts, 61.2 IP, 2.92 ERA

Flaherty has been masterfully consistent this season for the Cards. The 22-year-old righty has allowed one run or less in 7 of his 11 starts, and is yet to surrender more than four earned runs in any outing. He K’s over a batter an inning, and has a top-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio among NL pitchers (min. 60 innings).

He has also flashed top-shelf talent, completing two outings this season with 13 strikeouts, at least seven innings pitched, and just one run allowed. More of those performances will quickly move Flaherty up the Rookie of the Year ladder.

OF Jesse Winker, Cincinnati

70 games, .265/.379/.379

Winker posted a 133 OPS+ for the Reds last season, and just slipped under the rookie cutoff to remain eligible in 2018. He isn’t having quite as good of a campaign this year, but his plate discipline and bat control really stand out. Winker is one of eight major leaguers with more walks than strikeouts this season.

Winker is yet to show quite enough power for a corner outfielder, and his defense has been absolutely abhorrent. Still, his impressive patience at the plate is indicative of a quality big leaguer going forward, and that deserves a mention as one of the best rookies in the National League.

Next: Grading the Nationals' offensive performers

Juan Soto has been tough to watch defensively. Still, his impressive patience and power at the plate are indicative of a perennial All-Star going forward, perhaps beginning this season. He currently sits as the award favorite, although Buehler, Acuna, and a mix of others are hot on his tail.

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