Juan Soto brings a different energy to the Washington Nationals. Yes, his hot start since returning on Aug. 5 is important on the field, but it's more than that. There's a different swag emanating from the Nats' dugout when Soto is around, and that can be contagious.
It started with Soto dancing on the dugout in his first game back with the team, but it's evolved into a full-on reminder how important he is not just for the Nationals, but for Major League Baseball as a whole.
He smiles when he takes a strike, digs in, and just looks more confident with every pitch. He's always having fun, never bothered by adversity, and, as he alluded to in this quote after the Nationals' 16-4 win over the Mets Monday, enjoys every second he's out on the field, especially when he's hitting mammoth home runs.
Asdrúbal Cabrera homered twice in that win. Trea Turner also went 3-for-5 with a homer. Yan Gomes picked up his first two hits of the season. Did those performances have everything to do with Soto being back? Probably not. Did it help? Well considering you had guys getting piggyback rides in the dugout, it's safe to say everyone's been a little looser with Soto around.
Also, yes there's the whole baseball part of this where Soto clearly changes the dynamic of their lineup.
Look, Soto is the type of guy organizations dream of having. He's oozing with talent and charisma, his confidence can't get any higher, and his work ethic is second to none. Teammates love having him around, and all of this put together leads to the potential for a much-needed atmosphere change around the Nats clubhouse.
Soto is massively important to the future for both that Nats and baseball as a whole. He might also though be the key to the Nats turning around their slow start in 2020.
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Juan Soto's return to the Nationals is just as important for Major League Baseball originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
