MLB Insider Highlights Juan Soto’s Current Slump
Last year, the San Diego Padres gave most of their top prospects to the Washington Nationals in exchange for outfielder Juan Soto.
Prospects such as CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, James Wood, and Robert Hassell III went to the nation’s capital.
Universally considered as one of the best young players in baseball, Soto has failed to live up to expectations in San Diego.
He is hitting .164 this year as of Tuesday afternoon, and is 0-for-the homestand (21 at-bats).
MLB insider Bob Nightengale highlighted his ugly slump and how he hasn’t been able to perform like the Padres’ front office hoped to this point.
“The San Diego #Padres keep waiting for the real Juan Soto to show up: He’s hitting .164 this season, and is 0-for-21 this homestand. The 70 games since joining the Padres: .218/.377/.383, 9 HRs, 23 RBI. The 565 games with the Washington #Nats .291/.427/.538, 128 HRs, 381 RBI,” Nightengale tweeted.
The San Diego #Padres keep waiting for the real Juan Soto to show up:
He’s hitting .164 this season, and is 0-for-21 this homestand.
The 70 games since joining the Padres: .218/.377/.383, 9 HRs, 23 RBI.
The 565 games with the Washington #Nats .291/.427/.538, 128 HRs, 381 RBI— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 18, 2023
While 70 games are not nearly as significant as 565 games, they are certainly not insignificant.
The difference in performance is considerable, and Padres fans are starting to worry.
The team mortgaged its future for two-and-a-half years of Soto, and he still hasn’t produced outside of a very nice on-base percentage.
Even with Soto not quite playing up to his vast potential, the Padres made it all the way to the National League Championship Series last year.
Imagine their ceiling if they get the Nationals version of Soto, plus Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts.
This team has a ton of potential, but they need Soto to get going at the plate if they are going to reach it.