Juan Soto again named NL Rookie of the Month

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

October 01, 2018, 9:44am

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Nationals rookie outfielder Juan Soto finished his season like he started it on May 20: on a surge at the plate. He was rewarded today, named the National League Rookie of the Month for September. The announcement was made on the MLB Network.

The 19-year-old Soto hit .283 (28-for-99) with six doubles, six homers, 20 RBI, 16 walks and 15 runs scored in 26 games in September.

Soto was also the NL Rookie of the Month in June and July. He is the first player Nationals history to win the honor three times in one season.

Manager Davey Martinez spoke during the club's last homestand about Soto being mentioned in the record books with the legendary Mickey Mantle and Mel Ott.

"He's a kid that we didn't expect to be up here so early, and to do the things he's doing is pretty incredible," Martinez said. "Those names you just mentioned, to be categorized with some of those names is pretty awesome."

Soto's September individual highlights included four homers in a span of four games and a three-stolen base performance Sept. 15 in Atlanta. On Sept. 11, he hit two homers in a game for the third time this season, the most ever by a teenager in major league history. He is the youngest player since 1900 to steal three bases in a single game.

Overall, Soto hit .292 with 22 homers and 70 RBIs in his first season up with the Nats. He had 121 hits and 77 runs scored in 116 games, with five stolen bases. His OPS was .923. He hit .298 in his last 30 games with seven homers and 23 RBIs.