On Juan Soto’s 22nd Birthday A Look Back On His 2019 Playoff Run

Tonight is Game Five of the World Series and also Juan Soto’s 22nd Birthday.

At the age of 22, phenom Juan Soto has already established himself as one of the best hitters in MLB. Through three seasons, he is hitting .295, with 69 homers (Nice), 217 RBIs, and an OPS of .972. This season alone he hit .351 and won his first National League batting title. With three MLB seasons under his belt, Soto has already accomplished so much in his short career.

Juan Soto’s Electric 2019 Playoff Run

He has already proved himself on the biggest stage, which he did multiple times throughout the 2019 playoffs. Against the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card game, he only had one hit, but it was the biggest of the game. In the bottom of the eighth inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Soto came through against Josh Hader. His bases-clearing hit led the Nationals to a 4-3 win. Trent Grisham misplaying the ball in rightfield didn’t hurt. Against arguably the best closer in baseball, Soto didn’t flinch. Instead, he lives for the big moments and provided his first of many feats during the team’s World Series run.

Against the Dodgers, the Nationals were considered huge underdogs, but this didn’t faze the then 20-year-old. Instead, he hit .278 with two homers, four RBIs, and an OPS of 1.020. After falling behind in the five-game series, 2-1, the Nationals were able to force a Game Five, setting up Soto for another opportunity to deliver in the clutch.

Down 3-0 in the sixth and with a runner on, Soto singled to get the Nats on the board. However, the 20-year-old was just getting started. Down 3-1 in the eighth inning and Clayton Kershaw on the mound, time was running out for Washington. But then Anthony Rendon led off the inning with a solo shot. Not one to be outdone, Soto immediately followed up with a mammoth blast of his own to tie the game at three.

Washington went on to win 7-3 and advanced to the NLCS. Against the Cardinals, Soto was held in check, finishing the series hitting .188. He was able to make up for his down performance in kind on the world’s biggest stage.

During the World Series, Soto showcased to the world that he is already one of the best hitters in the game. He finished the series hitting .333, with three homers, seven RBIs, and an OPS of 1.178. In Game One of the World Series, Soto took ace Gerrit Cole deep, an absolute moon shot that traveled 417 feet over the train tracks at Minute Maid Park. He finished the game 3-4, with three RBIs and almost single handily carried the Nats to a 5-4 win. Soto became the fourth player under the age of 21 to homer in the World Series. This was just the beginning. In Game Six of the series, Alex Bregman put the Astros up  2-1, with a solo shot in the bottom of the first. He then carried his bat down and tossed it to his first base coach. Not one to be outdone, Soto put the Nats up 3-2 with a solo shot of his own in the fifth. Then naturally, the 21-year-old nonchalantly trolled Bregman by also carrying his bat down to first base.

Washington never relinquished the lead Soto handed them and they went on to win the World Series. Soto was then named the Co-winner for the 2019 Babe Ruth Award.

As Soto watches the 2020 World Series from home, he can take heart that his performance was one for the ages. Happy Birthday, kid.