Nats manager makes Soto apologize after 'embarrassing' play

Washington Nationals left fielder Juan Soto (22) reacts during his first inning at bat against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Nationals manager makes Juan Soto apologize after 'embarrassing' play costs team a run

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 5/24/21

Juan Soto got lazy during Sunday's game against the Baltimore Orioles, and the Washington Nationals are lucky they came out with a 6-5 win.

During the fourth inning, Soto popped up in front of the catcher. With two outs and a runner on third, a catch would've ended the inning. So, the Nationals outfielder didn't run to first base because he assumed he was out.

When the Orioles failed to make a play and the ball dropped to the infield grass as the runner on third base scores, Soto was thrown out at first, ending the inning.

Juan Soto, blunder of the year pic.twitter.com/C8Wh1VRI8m
— The Baseball Newsletter (@bbletter) May 23, 2021

Nationals hitting coach Kevin Long was caught on video trying to get Soto to stop beating himself up over not running out the pop. Based on Soto's reaction, one can assume he will never make the same mistake again in his career.

#Nats’ hitting coach Kevin Long was just caught on MASN’s cameras trying to get Juan Soto to stop beating himself up over not running out the infield pop that ended the 4th: pic.twitter.com/uWYPaRndvx
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) May 23, 2021

While Long made it seem like the play was not a big deal, Nationals manager Dave Martinez had a different view.

After the game, Martinez made Soto apologize to the team for the "embarrassing" play that cost Washington a run, according to Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post.

Dave Martinez says he told Juan Soto that not running out that popout to the catcher was "embarrassing for the whole club," then had him apologize to the team.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) May 23, 2021

The 22-year-old is in his fourth Major League Baseball season, so he should know better and have more discipline. However, everyone has mental lapses from time to time and luckily for him, the Nats still won the game.

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