Robles returns to D.C. and finally gets to play with Soto

When Victor Robles arrived in Washington one year ago, he was touted as the Nationals' future star outfielder, the man who would perhaps make Bryce Harper's potential departure less difficult to swallow.

When Robles arrived in Washington today, he found himself with a locker right next to Juan Soto, who over the last 3 1/2 months has taken over the title of Harper's potential replacement and already a star for the Nationals at 19.

Not that Robles has suddenly turned into chump change. His season may have been disrupted by a nasty elbow injury, but he's healthy now and primed to remind everyone why he was so highly touted in the first place.

"Everybody fell in love with Soto, because he's done so well. He's been incredible," manager Davey Martinez said. "You know, Victor Robles is an unbelievable athlete, and I think he's going to do just as good. I'm looking forward to getting him out there and getting him some playing time."

Though the Nationals' outfield has been crowded all summer - with Soto, Harper and Adam Eaton getting the bulk of the at-bats and Michael A. Taylor getting sporadic starts in center field - Martinez insists Robles is going to get a good look over the season's final month.

"I truly believe that he can help us win games," the manager said. "We have to get him out there to see if he can do that."

When it happens, Robles may find himself in center field, with Soto standing 100 feet or so away from him in left field. Remarkably, it'll be the first time the two Dominican natives will have played together in a professional game.

Though Robles is only 1 1/2 years older than Soto, the two have only crossed paths at home during the winter and in the minor league clubhouse at spring training. Robles got his professional start in 2014. By the time Soto debuted in 2016, Robles already was at low Single-A Hagerstown. By the time Soto reached Hagerstown in 2017, Robles was at Double-A Harrisburg. And by the time Robles returned to Syracuse from his elbow injury this summer, Soto was already in the big leagues, having never spent a day at Triple-A.

They've been friends for years, but now they're finally teammates.

"It was always a thought in our heads," Robles said, via interpreter Octavio Martinez. "When I signed and I saw him working out for us and possibly signing with us, we always talked very well and I always liked his humility. He was very humble. And I've always grown to him. Right away, we got along great, and we've always talked coming up, like: 'Let's play at this level together, and then imagine us playing at that level together.'

"And now that we're here, it's a little bit of a dream come true for both of us. It's always been in the back of our minds, so hopefully we can achieve that."

Robles' path back to Washington this season took an unexpected route. He hyperextended his left elbow making a diving catch in early April, and needed three months to recover. He wound up playing 40 games for Syracuse, hitting .278 with two homers, 10 RBIs, a .371 on-base percentage and 19 stolen bases before getting the call following the Chiefs' finale on Monday.

"It was a very difficult situation, going through the injury," Robles said. "It was the worst injury I've had before in my career, but I always put faith in God and came back and I feel a lot stronger now. Came back stronger and stayed positive the whole process, so I'm ready to go."

Robles is now wearing No. 16; Mark Reynolds had already taken No. 14 earlier this season while Robles was injured. Robles' hair is shorter than it was when he debuted last September. He's had to deal with the first significant injury of his career. But he believes once everyone sees him take the field, he'll remind them there's more than one electric young outfielder poised to become a building block for the Nationals.

"I feel like I'm the same type of player: very aggressive, plays hard and goes out there and going to do all he can," he said. "But at the same time, through the course of the year, I've learned to be more disciplined and patient. I think if I can take anything positive away from the injury it's that it taught me how to be patient and keep my faith in God and know whatever he has planned for me, it'll be good, and stay positive that way. If anything else, I've gained that from that."