Christian outfielder Juan Soto wins first Silver Slugger award

By Joshua Doering, SportsSpectrum.com Friday, November 06, 2020

Juan Soto No. 22 of the Washington Nationals celebrates his solo home run against the Houston Astros during the fourth inning in Game One of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 22, 2019, in Houston, Texas. | Elsa/Getty Images

While the Washington Nationals’ attempt to defend their World Series title did not go the way they’d hoped in 2020, outfielder Juan Soto firmly established himself as one of the best hitters in baseball.

On Thursday, he won his first Silver Slugger award, given to the top offensive performers at every position. Soto was one of three National League outfielders to be recognized, joining Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves.

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The 22-year-old native of the Dominican Republic hit the cover off the baseball after he was cleared to play following a positive COVID test. He led all of MLB in on-base percentage (.490), slugging percentage (.695) and OPS (1.185), as he hit 13 home runs in 47 games and paced the NL with a .351 batting average.

Soto’s strong season follows up breakout postseason from 2019, when he played a crucial role in the Nationals’ claiming the first World Series title in franchise history. Soto hit .333 with three home runs and seven RBIs in the Fall Classic.

His ascension to becoming of MLB’s best young stars is not something Soto expected.

“It’s a blessing from God, to be here in the big leagues and play baseball like I have,” Soto said prior to last year’s World Series. “I never thought I’d be this talented of a player.”

But he is talented, and he regularly gives God the glory. After the 2019 NLCS, he posted a photo of him with the trophy and said, “For you my God be the glory” (translated).

Back in March, as the coronavirus pandemic really began to spread, Soto posted a message that read, “Smile, you don’t know what God is protecting you from” (translated).

Soto also has worn a wristband that says “1 Cor. 13:13.” That Bible verse reads, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

If his career so far is any indication, Soto is going to bring plenty of smiles as one of the biggest stars in baseball for years to come, giving glory to God as he does so.

This article was originally published on SportsSpectrum.com. Visit Sports Spectrum for daily sports and faith content, including magazines, podcasts, devotionals, videos and more.