Louder cheers were shouted. The applause was given more force. The shout of “We love you, Juan!” was amplified after a walk in the eighth inning.
It is uncertain whether Juan Soto’s fifth season with the Nationals will end on Monday, the final game before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline. However, if it was the curly “W” at the end, there was no doubt about the impression he has made in Washington at the age of just 23.
According to reports, other teams, including the Cardinals, Dodgers, and Padres, are currently developing sensational offers for the desired star outfielder. Since Soto declined a 15-year, $440 million contract extension, he has become the center of attention in the baseball trading world.
He won’t hit the open market until the 2024 offseason.
The atmosphere on Monday seemed to be more about sentiment and thankfulness, for both players and spectators, as opposed to the previous few weeks’ focus on numbers and phrases. He went 1-for-1 (with a home run off former colleague Max Scherzer), notching two runs scored, three walks, and a stolen base with all eyes on No. 22.
Soto praised the instructors within the organization at all levels when questioned about his experience with the Nationals, which started when he signed with the team in 2015. He said, “I’m delighted they did it because each and every one of them showed me something new in my job and in myself.”
In addition, Soto is batting this season as compensation for all the knowledge he gained from others on his journey to the major leagues. He’s hit.246 with 21 home runs and 91 walks, and he’s learned some priceless things on his own.
Soto has undergone testing to see if he can handle pitchers in the batter’s box and outside noise. By talking to teammates, such as trade candidates Josh Bell and Nelson Cruz, and focusing on the near future and the current task at hand, he has been trying his best to avoid distractions.
It is advantageous for him because the Nationals will face an ace against whom Soto was already considering signing a contract one hour after the Trade Deadline.
Even though Tuesday is characterized by uncertainty, it cannot overshadow the undeniable admiration for Soto expressed on Monday.
