Bryce Harper’s debut with the Washington Nationals got here with an infinite quantity of fanfare and exceptionally excessive expectations. The previous first total decide within the 2010 draft had carried these excessive expectations ever since he first appeared on the radar of scouts in highschool.
Harper did not disappoint. He hit .270/.340/.477 (118 OPS+) in his first full season within the majors, at 19 years of age, and wound up profitable the NL Rookie of the 12 months Award.
Juan Soto’s debut got here six years later. Soto had been a global newbie free-agent discover almost three years earlier and did not fairly carry the identical notoriety that Harper did upon his arrival. Nonetheless, it was a giant second when the 19-year-old debuted in left discipline.
Soto additionally did not disappoint. He batted .292/.406/.517 (142 OPS+) in that first full season. Soto completed second in Rookie of the 12 months voting behind Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr.
Harper and Soto every hit 22 residence runs throughout these first seasons with the Nationals. Neither appeared in a full 162 video games. Harper received into 139. Soto performed in 116.
Harper and Soto every received off to fast begins of their sophomore seasons. By means of their first 162 profession video games, they every smashed 31 residence runs. The mark stays an organizational file (even together with the historical past of the Montreal Expos).
James Wooden matched that file on Monday. Washington’s 22-year-old left fielder hit a three-run homer within the eighth inning towards the San Diego Padres that ricocheted off the fitting discipline foul pole. It was Wooden’s thirty first residence run in 158 profession video games.
