Soto with big day, AFL roster set for Nats prospects

Outfielder Juan Soto continued his rehab from hamate bone surgery with an outstanding performance with the Gulf Coast Nationals.

Soto is a Top 100 prospect, and has put together his first professional five-hit performance by going 5-for-5 with a double, a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored in a game on September 2. Soto hit second and played right field in the GCL Nationals' 13-9 loss to GCL Cardinals.

Soto is now considered the No. 2 overall prospect for the Nationals.

Even with the loss, the GCL Nationals are 34-22 and in first place by 1 ½ games in the East division.

The 18-year-old Soto has played four games for the GCL Nats since August 29, hitting .320. On the season, Soto is hitting .351 in 32 games with six doubles, one triple, three homers, 18 runs scored and 18 RBIs.

*

The Arizona Fall League entrant for the Nationals this season is the Mesa Solar Sox. Former or current P-Nats on the roster include top prospect outfielder Victor Robles, right-hander Austen Williams, catcher Taylor Gushue and third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez. Other players who played for P-Nats are right-hander Dakota Bacus and right-hander Kyle McGowin.

Robles is No. 5 on the MLB.com Top 100 prospect list and is slashing .298/.380/.488 in 113 games this season with P-Nats and Double-A Harrisburg. He has 35 doubles, eight triples, 10 homers, 26 stolen bases and 47 RBIs.

The Solar Sox consist of top prospects from the Nationals, Astros, Athletics, Cubs and Tigers and they play their home games at Sloan Park in Mesa, Az. Omar Lopez from the Astros is the manager. Their first game is October 10 at Scottsdale.

The Nationals will send pitching coach Michael Tejera to work with Williams, Gushue, Bacus and McGowin.