Soto boosts All-Star, Derby cases with 'beautiful' oppo blast
This browser does not support the video element.
ATLANTA -- It is not uncommon for players to look on with a sense of pride and satisfaction as their home runs fly out of ballparks. The expansive distances, the blistering exit velocities, all of the metrics add up to an impressive at-bat.
For Juan Soto, his attention is captured when he watches the ball soar in a direction that creates a visual that makes him feel “amazing” -- going oppo.
On Saturday afternoon, Soto hit a Statcast-estimated 400-foot home run to left field off right-hander Kyle Wright in the third inning of the Nationals' 4-3 loss to the Braves at Truist Park. The homer tied him with J.D. Martinez for second-most opposite-field home runs (40) since the start of 2018 -- Soto’s debut season -- behind only Aaron Judge (47).
“That means a lot,” Soto said. “That shows you that’s my favorite part of the field to hit the ball. I’ve always said this since Day One -- I tell everybody I love to hit the ball that way and see how the ball fades that way and everything.
“It’s one of the most beautiful things, I think, in baseball.”
Going oppo is a meaningful feat for the lefty slugger. It signifies to him that he is “seeing the ball pretty well.” Saturday’s home run was his second in back-to-back games.
“Whenever I start hitting the ball that way is when everything starts going for me,” he said.
Soto bolstered his July batting average to .476 on Saturday, the day before All-Star reserves are announced, while still leading the Majors in walks. Since July 17, he has reached base safely in 19 straight contests.
“He’s really staying on the ball really well,” manager Dave Martinez said. “When he starts hitting home runs to center field and left field, that’s who he is, and the rest of it will come.”
This browser does not support the video element.
Soto’s 17th home run of the season also was the 115th of his five-year career. He moved ahead of Johnny Bench and Albert Pujols (tied, 114) for the 15th-most homers before turning 24 years old.
Soto’s birthday is not until Oct. 25, giving him the remainder of the season to continue ascending the leaderboard. With each home run, he gets closer to reaching the marks set by:
Eddie Mathews (153), Mel Ott (153), Ken Griffey, Jr. (132), Frank Robinson (130), Mike Trout (130), Alex Rodriguez (128), Juan González (121), Bryce Harper (121), Mickey Mantle (121), Andruw Jones (120), Ted Williams (118), Giancarlo Stanton (117), Orlando Cepeda (116) and Jimmie Foxx (116).
“He hit the ball, again, well today,” Martinez said. “So we’ve just got to keep him consistent and keep him going.”
This browser does not support the video element.
Staying consistent, similar to this season, Soto gained momentum leading up to the All-Star break last year. He participated in the 2021 T-Mobile Home Run Derby, walloping a 520-foot dinger, and hit 18 of his 29 homers on the season following the festivities. Could he do the same again this month in Los Angeles?
“I’ve been thinking,” Soto said. “I’m still thinking to see what I’m going to do. We’re going to see in the next couple of days what I’m going to do.”