Then he confirmed simply how prepared he was.
Just as throughout the all-star break right here, the native media tried to get Soto to say one thing, something, about doubtlessly being traded to the Dodgers. But earlier than the Nationals’ 4-1 win— and earlier than Soto quieted the group with a two-run triple within the fifth — the 23-year-old had others plans. Soon, Paolo Espino, Andrés Machado, Victor Arano, Hunter Harvey, Carl Edwards Jr. and Kyle Finnegan held the Dodgers to a run on eight hits. The offense stirred awake on Yadiel Hernandez’s solo homer in a four-run fifth. Tony Gonsolin, who had not yielded successful earlier than Hernandez tagged him, obtained his first loss after getting into 11-0 with a 2.02 ERA. But the day started with Soto’s suave deflections.
Did coming to Chavez Ravine make him take into consideration enjoying for the first-place Dodgers? “Not at all. I think about my Home Run Derby championship, my award, I’m happy to have it here.”
Was he shocked fans chanted “Future Dodger” to him throughout the All-Star Game final week? “Obviously, I was really surprised. But I was more surprised to play center field that day.”
Have large moments prior to now — his large homer off Clayton Kershaw in Game 5 of the National League Division Series in 2019, his latest Home Run Derby win — made this really feel like a second residence? “Not at all. I enjoy the moments not only here. I enjoy it every time at every stadium I go.”
Does he just like the West Coast? “It’s really far from home.”
Did Trea Turner try to recruit him throughout the all-star festivities? “I tried to recruit him!”
To Washington? “Yeah, why not? He’s happy where he’s at but I really tried to do my best to get him back.”
For actual although, would Soto be excited to be part of the Dodgers? “I never think about it because I never see myself in any of that. I’ve always been loyal to the Nationals, I’ve always been there for them. Everywhere I’m going, they try to pull me out of my team.”
Indeed they do. That’s what occurs when a membership is fielding presents for one of many sport’s finest gamers. Seeing that the Arizona Diamondbacks usually are not anticipated to pursue Soto, he didn’t obtain this consideration in Phoenix over the weekend. But in Los Angeles, the place the Dodgers dealt for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner final summer season, Soto was the undisputed focus.
The residence fans cheered when Soto was introduced throughout pregame introductions. At the beginning of his first at-bat towards Gonsolin, they yelled “Future Dodger!” some extra. From there, although, Soto was solely a part of Washington’s effort. Ahead of his triple within the fifth, Ehire Adrianza, Victor Robles and César Hernández prolonged the inning with three straight two-out singles. In the subsequent half, Manager Dave Martinez aggressively hooked Espino at 54 pitches, leaving Machado with two inherited runners.
Machado rewarded his effort by stranding the bases loaded. He struck out Mookie Betts trying within the course of. Arano then threw all eight of his pitches for strikes in a clear sixth. While yielding two hits to Trea Turner, the Nationals held Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith hitless in 13 plate appearances. The bullpen labored 5 scoreless and left eight males on base. Soto, in the meantime, added a single and stroll for good measure.
The looming commerce deadline is 6 p.m. on Aug. 2. By then, Soto will know if he’s heading elsewhere or sticking with the crew he signed with at 16 out of the Dominican Republic. And within the thick of a lot uncertainty, of the fixed questions on his future, he appears prepared for that day.
“It’s been a tough week,” Soto mentioned. “And to get to see if I’m going to stay there or if I’m going, it’s going to really flush my mind.”
Why did Martinez transfer Robles to the leadoff spot? “I’ve been thinking about it and he’s swinging the bat well,” the supervisor mentioned of Robles batting atop the order for the primary time since final August. “I mean, if you think about what he does when he gets on, he causes a bunch of havoc. So I talked to him today and I told him ‘I want you to lead off and we’re going to lead you off for a while’ and see what he does. He’s done it in the minor leagues. He had good success with it. So I want to see if we can jumpstart our offense and get some kind of energy.”
For some time? It felt like a good follow-up after Martinez briefly hit Robles leadoff in 2021 earlier than shelving the concept. Robles completed Monday’s victory with a first-pitch flyout, a single, a trying strikeout and check-swing strikeout with two outs and the bases loaded within the fifth.
“Yeah, I’m going to lead him off for a while now,” Martinez answered. “Yeah … so we’ll see.”