Juan Soto crossed home plate and raised both arms to the sky, then gave high-fives to teammates Mark Reynolds and Pedro Severino.
It was a night of firsts for Soto, the 19-year-old outfielder who was promoted from the minor leagues on Sunday after hitting 14 homers in just 39 games.
Soto hit a home run for his first major-league hit in his first at-bat as a starter for Washington, driving in Reynolds and Severino with a three-run shot to left field on Monday. His homer on the first pitch he saw in the at bat gave the Nationals a 3-0 lead over San Diego in the last of the second inning against Padres starter Robbie Erlin.
Juan Soto’s first MLB start.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 21, 2018
Juan Soto’s first MLB hit.
Juan Soto’s first MLB HR.
Juan Soto’s first MLB RBI … and second MLB RBI … and third MLB RBI. pic.twitter.com/WZROZwD89c
The three-run home run was also the first three RBI of his career.
Soto fanned in his first big league at-bat as a pinch-hitter on Sunday.
He got the start in left field Monday and made a routine catch as Matt Szczur led off the first with a fly ball to left, then Soto went deep in the last of the second as the No. 6 hitter in the Washington lineup.
Soto grounded out to short in his second at-bat Monday.
According to MLB.com on Twitter, Soto is the first teenager to hit a home run in the major leagues since Bryce Harper on Sept. 30, 2012.
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