Going into last night’s game, Juan Soto’s 138 plate appearances for Washington’s Nationals early this season were second-most on the team, behind only Nationals’ leadoff man César Hernández’s 140, and Soto had 27 PAs in a month-plus with runners in scoring position, though the 23-year-old slugger was 2 for 24 (.083/.185/.083) in those plate appearances, with two RBIs, three walks, and eight Ks.
All things considered, a decision this season to hit Soto second had him coming up a lot, often with runners on in front of him, and when he starts driving them in, it’s going to be something that helps the entire team.