The Monday Takeaway
Juan Soto was in A-ball about two weeks ago. He tore it up. He went to Double-A, and tore that league up for eight games.
Soto wasn’t alive when Bartolo Colon threw his first big league pitch. He wasn’t alive when Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone first hit shelves in England. Barack Obama had held political office for just less than two years when Soto came into the world.
Basically, he’s young. He’s really young. He’s 19 years old. He’s never known a world without the Backstreet Boys. And by God, he’s in the big leagues. Soto got the call as a result of a series of unfortunate events that have befallen the Nats’ outfield depth and his torrid hitting in the minors. This isn’t just some kid who’s been plucked out of the low minors. Soto is an all-world prospect.
He’s here. He’s playing.
He’s hitting.
Soto’s first career hit in his first career start came on the first pitch he saw yesterday, an oppo-shot by a left-handed hitter off a lefty. That’s a difficult dinger to hit–and Soto hit it.
Who knows how long this ride lasts. Maybe the Nats will send Soto down once everyone’s healthy. Maybe he’ll hit so well that he’ll just have to stick around. Here’s hoping he does, because it’ll be neat to have someone in the league mashing bombs who wasn’t around when Titanic hit theaters.
Quick Hits from Monday
Speaking of young players doing big things, here’s Gleyber Torres disrespecting his elders.
Poor Bart got knocked around last night, as did his teammates. The Yankees are on a bit of a roll right now.
With 8XBH tonight thus far (and 8XBH on Sat. and Sun. at KC), the @yankees have recorded at least 8XBH in three straight games for first time in franchise history and fourth time in modern MLB history (also BOS 6/27-29/2003, CLE 4/9-11/1999 and WAS 6/14-16/1935).
— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) May 22, 2018
Torres, for his part, is hitting .321/.489/.571 since making it to the big leagues. He’s hitting ninth.
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He’s eaten a live lizard on camera. He went to Japan and rediscovered himself. It’s been a long road for Miles Mikolas, and now he’s back in the big leagues and shoving. The Royals were no match for him on Monday night.
Mikolas threw his first career shutout against the Cardinals’ cross-state rivals. He’s been an excellent pickup for St. Louis and now sports a 2.24 ERA.
No word yet as to whether the Cards are now serving lizards in the post-game spread.
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The Diamondbacks entered the day having lost four in a row.
Make that five in a row. It’s hard to win when Zack Greinke gives up three homers, the last of which was that rather fitting exclamation point of a moonshot by Lorenzo Cain. They haven’t hit well, they haven’t pitched well, and they haven’t been healthy The Rockies are now in first place.
Every team goes through a rough patch. The Diamondbacks need to get the ship back on course sooner rather than later.
Defensive Play of the Day
Jorge Alfaro has been primarily known for his bat during his time as a prospect. Turns out he’s also really dang good on defense.
Kapler on this game-ending play/throw by Alfaro: “I don’t know if there’s another catcher that I’ve ever seen — and I played with Pudge — that makes that play in the ninth inning.” #Phillies pic.twitter.com/AhoP10PCvB
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) May 22, 2018
That’s seriously high praise from Gabe Kapler.
What to Watch on Tuesday
Is Chris Sale pitching today? Yes. Should you watch Chris Sale pitch today? Yes. He’ll do his best to try to carve up the Rays, while Jake Faria will try to contain Mookie Betts and co.
You could watch the newly Kryptonian form of Gerrit Cole make short work of the Giants tomorrow. Like, you could do that. That’s perfectly fine. I’m here to advocate you watch the Yankees and the Rangers, though. Domingo German is the filthiest pitcher nobody’s ever heard of, and he’s going for New York. Also, there’s a good chance all of the Yankees’ righty mashers are going to feast on Cole Hamels. It’ll be a good watch.
For your late night west coast game, go for the Mariners and A’s. It’ll be Mike Leake and Trevor Cahill on the mound, which means you’re watching for the bats. There are plenty of fun ones in this game. Jean Segura! Dee Gordon! Mitch Haniger! Matt Chapman! Jed Lowrie! Dustin Fowler! Good times for all.
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