One week in, Soto showing he can make adjustments

BALTIMORE - Anthony Rendon knows a thing or two about trying to thrive in the major leagues after getting rushed through the minor leagues. The Nationals third baseman accrued only 326 plate appearances over 79 minor league games in 2012 and early 2013 before getting his first promotion to Washington.

It was a fast track, to be sure, but Rendon also had three seasons at Rice (an elite Division I program) on his resume and was nearly 23 when he made his debut for the Nationals.

Which is why Rendon is all the more impressed with Juan Soto, the 19-year-old phenom who made his debut for the Nats last week after only 512 minor league plate appearances, all but 35 of them below Double-A.

What stands out the most to Rendon about his young teammate?

"I think just his pitch recognition," he said. "I think that's the biggest part, the fact that he's not swinging at too many balls outside the zone. He's taking close pitches. He knows where the ball is and where the plate is, so that's pretty impressive."

Soto put those skills on display again Monday in the Nationals' 6-0 victory over the Orioles, going 2-for-4 and delivering his team's only hit the first time through the lineup against right-hander Alex Cobb.

Eight games into his career, Soto continues to show he can handle this tough assignment. He's now batting .320 (8-for-25) with a .414 OBP and .974 OPS.

"I'm not surprised," manager Davey Martinez said. "What I am surprised about is how patient he is, how he stays in the strike zone. He doesn't chase that much, and that's good to see for a young hitter."

Soto showed that discipline during his first hit Monday, taking some close two-strike pitches from Cobb before getting one over the plate and sending an opposite-field single to left. In his limited time here, he already has shown a knack for taking the ball the other way, an advanced skill for such a young hitter, let alone one with his prodigious power.

It's been a whirlwind week-plus for the rookie outfielder, but he's beginning to settle into his new surroundings.

"I feel better than when I started, like more relaxed," he said. "More pressure at the plate."

After a jaw-dropping debut couple of games that included a three-run homer and then a three-walk showing the next night, Soto did go through a little 0-for-7 mini-slump. Since then, he's 5-for-12 with three doubles, recognizing the changes pitchers are making in trying to get him out.

"They see the weak part of me, and I just try to do my job and start making adjustments," he said. "They make it, and I'm going to make them, too."