Juan Soto rebounded from a relatively slow start the 2021 campaign and really turned it on in the second half of the season. By a “slow start”, of course, we’re talking a .283/.407/.445 line, nine doubles, 11 home runs, 58 walks, and 52 strikeouts over 79 games and 332 plate appearances in the first-half, before Soto sorted things out at the plate, and going into the series finale in Coors Field yesterday, the 22-year-old slugger had a .362/.535/.670 line, 11 doubles, 18 home runs, 81 walks, and 35 Ks in 68 games and 303 PAs in the second-half.
Davey Martinez, who’s been the manager in the nation’s capital since Soto debuted in the majors in 2018, has seen the outfielder grow from a very good to one of the best hitters in the game over that time, so we asked the manager on Wednesday afternoon where he thought that his charge had made the biggest strides in his game this season, and what he felt Soto is focused on improving.