New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto. Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

Watch: Mets' Juan Soto faces Nationals with his younger brother wearing No. 22

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Mar 20, 2025 9:35 PM ET

Some Nationals fans had to do a double-take on Thursday night when they saw a Washington player with the last name "Soto" donning No. 22 trot onto the field.

It was Juan Soto's 19-year-old brother, Elian. He had been called up from the Nats' minor league camp to play against Juan, who signed a lucrative 15-year, $765M deal with the New York Mets in December.

Elian Soto enters the game for the Nationals wearing the No. 22. pic.twitter.com/RcYSa1K7QF
— Jessica Camerato (@JessicaCamerato) March 21, 2025

Elian played left field late in Washington's 10-3 loss to New York, opposite the field position his brother played for nearly five years in the nation's capital.

Juan had already been substituted out when Elian took the field, going 1-for-3 with a run scored, a walk and a strikeout. Elian had less luck in his spring training debut, striking out in his only at-bat.

It's doubtful that the younger Soto will crack the Nationals roster at any point this season. Unlike Juan, he's not quite ready for the big leagues at 19.

Austen Bundy

Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area

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