Washington Nationals’ Juan Soto named NL Player of the Week

Juan Soto talked after a 2 for 3, two-walk game in the series finale in Oriole Park on Sunday about being locked in at the plate right now.

Upon leaving Baltimore, Soto was 12 for 26 on the Washington Nationals’ current road trip (.462/.533/1.077) which brought him up to a silly .425/.500/.950 line overall on the season with three doubles, six home runs, five walks, and five strikeouts in 46 plate appearances going into this week’s three-game series in Atlanta.

“I’m seeing all the pitches great,” Soto said on Sunday night.

“Every kind of pitch that I’m seeing, [I’m seeing] it really well. I’m taking my pitches, I’m taking my walks. But when they miss I don’t miss it.

“That’s the difference I’m seeing right now. Just try to don’t miss their mistakes. So I just try to keep the same things, keep the same routine, try to keep it short, simple.

“Don’t try to do too much because it will maybe get in my mind and then I break anything in my routine and everything goes out.

“So I just try to keep it simple, try to keep the same thing every day, and try to play the game.”

In the last week, Soto went 12 for 26 with one double, five homers, 12 RBIs, three walks, and 12 runs scored in seven games, which earned him the honor of an NL Player of the Week award.

Soto, the Nationals’ press release on his first career Player of the Week award noted, “... led the National League in slugging percentage (1.077), OPS (1.610), home runs (5), and RBIs (12) during the week.”

His manager, as always, was thrilled with the production from and the good news for his left fielder.

“That’s awesome,” Martinez said of the award before Monday’s series opener in Atlanta.

“He deserved it. He had an unbelievable week. We always talk about Juan. He’s that kid that wants to get better every day. He means a lot to us and this lineup

“He just loves to play the game. I’ve been moving him around the batting order. It doesn’t seem to bother him a bit. He kind of likes it.

“I know yesterday he was making a joke because he was up there and he told Trea [Turner], he said, ‘You’re on deck again?’ And [Turner] said, ‘Yeah, that’s what happens when you hit first or second.’

“He said, ‘Man, I might get five or six at bats.’ And he got excited about that, so he was good with it.

“But hey, kudos to him, I hope he continues to do what he’s been doing. He’s been swinging the bat really well.”

Soto celebrated the award by going 1 for 4 with a walk and a home run in the series opening loss to the Braves...