While Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto may not have entered the season as the team’s consensus top prospect The recently called-up 19-year-old is now close to accomplishing only one teenager has done before in the majors.
According to Stats By STATS, the outfielder is set to join Ken Griffey Jr. as the only two teenagers to record a .300-plus batting average and .500-plus slugging percentage in the live-ball era.
Furthermore, Soto could become the first teenager during the live-ball era to have a slash line of at least .300/.400/.500 through his first 20 games and a minimum of 50 plate appearances.
We should have seen this coming, based on the way Soto got his MLB career started.
He enters Tuesday with a .328/.431/.541 slash line through 19 games and will likely be in the lineup for the matchup against the New York Yankees.
The Nationals recently welcomed back outfielder Adam Eaton, who should play fairly regularly. That said, the historic start to his MLB career is keeping Soto in the lineup and forcing Washington to bench center fielder Michael A. Taylor.
Comparisons to one of the game’s greatest players can always be controversial. But Soto’s accomplishments thus far are right up there with Griffey’s and the 19-year-old phenom will be a player to watch as the rest of the season unfolds.
The achievement could become even more special if it’s accomplished in Yankee Stadium.