Soto returns as cutouts of family 'watch' in LF

WASHINGTON -- Juan Soto's uncles had never been to Nationals Park, so he invited them to his first game of the 2020 regular season -- in the form of cardboard cutouts.

On Wednesday, the likenesses of Soto’s relatives filled the first rows in the left-field stands to “watch” him in the starting lineup the day after he was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list.

“I just wanted to feel my family back there,” Soto said after the Nationals’ 3-1 loss to the Mets. “I have a couple uncles who never been in the field, in the stadium, so it’s their first time.”

Soto played with the energy like he had a live cheering section in the crowd. He went 2-for-4 in his 2020 debut, stroking an RBI double in his first at-bat, which he said set the tone for the game.

He also showed off his Gold Glove Award-finalist skills by making a great diving catch against Andrés Giménez in the second inning. Soto hurled his body so hard into the field that his sunglasses and hat bounced off his head. The grab had a 15 percent catch probability, with only 3.2 seconds of opportunity time and 46 feet needing to be covered. It was with that speed and intensity that he approached his debut on Wednesday.

“It feels like they are out there,” he said. “I’m playing for them. I play for all my family, and everything I do is for them.”

The Nationals had wanted to make sure Soto was feeling 100 percent before they added him into the lineup, where he hit fourth behind Starlin Castro. Soto was honest with manager Dave Martinez when he told the skipper after he was cleared that he needed another day or two to get his legs under him. On Wednesday, he was ready.

“He was really good,” Martinez said. “He worked good at-bats all night. The play he made in the outfield was a tough play. I’m glad he got up and was OK. … We got a day off tomorrow. I’ll probably check in with him tomorrow and see how he’s doing, but I anticipate he’ll be ready to go on Friday.”

Soto’s plan for the Nationals’ off-day on Thursday is to get treatment for his legs and wrist, which he landed on during the diving catch, and otherwise simply rest. Soto missed the first eight games of the regular season, and the team’s goal is for him to stay healthy enough to be available for the remaining games.

“For me, I love writing his name in the lineup hitting fourth, it’s nice,” Martinez said. “So hopefully, we’ll continue to build him up and he gets ready to play, and we can put him out there every day.”

The Nats know what they’re getting from the hungry 21-year-old, even when there aren’t cardboard cutouts of his family in the stands.

“I’m happy to be back,” Soto said. “If I come to the field and I’m in the lineup, I’m going to give my 100 percent, no matter what.”