There’s a reason pitchers around MLB have elected to walk Washington Nationals slugger Juan Soto on a daily basis. If you don’t you will pay. The Cincinnati Reds learned the hard way that theory is true.
Soto entered Thursday’s contest leading the National League in batting average, on-base percentage, walks and WAR. His first plate appearance of the night only naturally resulted in a nine-pitch walk.
The walk — his 131st of the season — set a Nationals single-season franchise record.
Soto surpassed Bryce Harper, who drew 130 walks in the 2018 season, his final with the Nationals.
After a two-out single in his second at-bat, Soto delivered fireworks, hitting two home runs to follow his record-setting walk.
The first blast, Soto battled back from a 0-2 count to get the count to 2-2 before lifting a sinker 368 feet opposite field for his 28th home run of the season.
The homer extended Washington’s lead to 2-0 in the sixth. He didn’t wait long to hit No. 29.
Soto again went opposite field, launching a full-count fastball.
The Nationals hung on for the 3-2 win. The win was the 64th of the season for the last-placed Nats. But, Soto has continued to state his case as the NL MVP.
Soto reached base in all four of his plate appearances, finishing with two solo home runs, a single and a walk. He has now reached base at least four times in 24 games this season. Only, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams and Barry Bonds have had more such games in a season, according to Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports.
His last 10 plate appearances have exemplified how great he has been down the stretch.
The 22-year old is on the heels of his second straight NL batting title, hitting .325 by night’s end with a .470 on-base percentage. In a season that went south for Washington, Soto continues to soar and rise above the sulk surrounding the rest of the team.
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