WASHINGTON -- On July 1, Juan Soto went 0-for-6 during the Nationals' 4-3 loss to the Phillies in 13 innings, in the midst of an 0-for-10 stretch across two games. It was perhaps the only point during Soto's spectacular rookie season that could be classified as a mini-slump. And he was devastated.
"He thought the world was going to end; he really did," hitting coach Kevin Long said.
"In the Minor Leagues, I don't have days like that," Soto said.
Soto has spent so much time making it look easy while punishing opposing pitching staffs that it was almost as if this was the first time he realized it might not be so simple.