Juan Soto’s off day simply occurred to be within the metropolis the place he turned a legend. For four-plus seasons, Soto was a prince within the District — the city that turned connected to the younger Dominican star who helped ship the Nationals’ first-ever World Series title. But when Soto returned Monday, he didn’t use his downtime to go to previous haunts, see the sights or meet up with former teammates.
Rather, Soto joined his San Diego Padres teammates for dinner. They then watched that night time’s NBA playoff recreation as a bunch.
“We had a great time as a team,” Soto stated.
Soto selecting to bond along with his group on the street was one other easy reminder that the 24-year-old now performs for the Padres — one thing that may solely be additional bolstered Tuesday night when he smashed a 441-foot house run deep into middle area in San Diego’s 7-4 win over Washington. In his newest return to Nationals Park — he performed there with the Padres final season lower than two weeks after being traded — Soto started the three-game collection by going 3-for-4 with a stroll and a stolen base.
Ten months after the commerce, Soto nonetheless appears to be like totally different — bizarre, even — sporting yellow and brown. But lately, Soto has at the least began to resemble the identical Juan Soto whose efficiency with the Nationals typically drew Ted Williams comparisons.
After Tuesday, Soto is now hitting .260 with a .408 on-base proportion, .497 slugging proportion and a .905 OPS (on-base plus slugging) — numbers that high the .242/.401/.485/.853 line he slugged in his remaining season with the Nationals. And whereas Soto’s remaining season in Washington was thought-about to be a down yr by his requirements, Soto’s final 26 video games look lots like his peak years along with his former group: He’s hit a staggering .326/.453/.590 with a 1.043 OPS over that span.
So, Soto could also be again in additional methods than one.
But returning to his previous ballpark doesn’t harm, both.
“Can you tell?” Soto stated with a smile when requested if he loved hitting at Nationals Park.
Soto’s resurgence comes as a aid to the Padres, who traded a prospect-heavy package deal that has develop into the core of the Nationals’ rebuild. Last yr, Soto didn’t have the statistical impression anticipated of a famous person — regardless of the Padres reaching the NLCS and coming a recreation away from reaching the World Series. After one other gradual begin in 2023, Soto’s struggles turned much more heightened. Many puzzled what was fallacious.
Soto stated Tuesday that he has targeted lots on bettering the mechanics of his swing — although he was reluctant to present particulars.
Analysts famous that in Soto’s tough patch, he stopped hitting as continuously to the other aspect of the sphere — which had been one in all his greatest attributes as a hitter. Soto was nonetheless getting on base by drawing walks, although he was placing out at the next price than in earlier years.
Perhaps among the struggles might be attributed to Soto’s change in setting. At the time he was traded, Soto’s ending with the Nationals was sophisticated. He has stated he was upset after particulars of the group’s 15-year, $440 million provide leaked to the general public. Then he was shipped out of city by the one group he had identified within the majors.
He recalled Tuesday being “pretty emotional” when he returned to Nationals Park as a customer with the Padres final August.
This time round, Soto appeared to embrace the positives of enjoying the Nationals. He playfully teased former teammates by predicting he was going to hit a house run — after which truly did so. And simply earlier than Soto stepped into the batter’s field for the primary time that night, he soaked in cheers from the group and took off his helmet to tip it to them.
Then, for good measure, Soto obtained to the plate and ripped a single to middle on the primary pitch of the sport.
“He’s a good player, right?” Nationals supervisor Dave Martinez stated.
Asked if he may envision himself returning to the Nationals in free company when his contract is up in 2025, Soto gave a typical response by saying proper now, he solely thinks about enjoying for the Padres.
But there are many causes to concentrate on the now. Besides getting out of his private stoop, Soto has to assist the Padres overcome their unexpectedly gradual begin to the season. San Diego entered Wednesday’s recreation 22-26 — a report that’s laborious to think about given all of the star energy (Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr.) on the Padres.
Soto, after all, has tried to attract on his expertise with the 2019 Nationals — who began 19-31 and … properly, you realize the remaining. Recalling that championship-winning season, Soto recalled how a lot gamers loved coming to the ballpark every single day, how they didn’t let their report have an effect on them and performed collectively as a group.
So then, has Soto informed his teammates to go 1-0 every single day?
“No, not yet,” Soto stated with amusing.
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