Washington Nationals: Luis Garcia vs. Juan Soto, first five games

With apologies to Carter Kieboom, there hasn’t been two hyped up rookies like Luis Garcia and Juan Soto in some time for the Washington Nationals. Lets compare their first five games in the league.

Luis Garcia and Juan Soto have a lot in common, starting with their highly anticipated debuts in the league for the Washington Nationals. They were both brought in to boost the performance of the team on the field while filling in for injured players. Soto debuted at age 19, Garcia at age 20, youngsters who shot through the minors. And both were second on the teams prospect list at the time of their call up.

Soto would hit 22 home runs as a rookie and finish second in the Rookie of the Year voting. In his sophomore season he’d hit 34 home runs and triumph as a World Champion. Known as the Childish Bambino, he is quickly becoming the younger, fresher, face of the franchise.

Garcia is just five games into his major league career. The anticipation surrounding a debut had not been at this level since three years prior when Soto got the call to the majors. Garcia has the nickname Trompo, or wooden spinning top, meaning he is a spinning ball of energy.

There are some similarities in their first five games as well. Soto hit two home runs, including one in what would become his debut game, even though it was the conclusion of a suspended game which actually took place five days before his real debut.

Soto finished his first five games with a .333 average and an OPS of 1.300. Soto started four games and appeared as a pinch hitter once. The team was 3-2 in his first five appearances.

Garcia was recalled with almost as much fanfare as Soto and he has contributed slightly more. Through five games Garcia has has shown flashes of power, ripping a home run and a double. He has also struck out six times in his first five games. A couple of 0-fors have hurt his overall average which sat at .288 five games in.

With Garcia in the lineup the Nats are 2-3.

While the advantage through five games in their respective careers slightly goes to Juan Soto, it’s only five games in. If Garcia can put together a first two-years like Soto, the Nationals will have two great, young players on their hands.