WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Juan Soto’s Spring Training debut got pushed back after he fouled a ball of his right foot during live batting practice on Sunday. A pitch from Todd Peterson bounced underneath Soto’s shin guard, and according to manager Dave Martinez, it “got him pretty good.”
“[We’re] just being cautious,” Martinez said. “[He] said he feels OK, but we're just going to give him a day or two, see how he feels tomorrow.”
Soto wanted to get in some swings while the Nationals were in Jupiter for a road game against the Cardinals. He had been out of the lineup with the anticipation of him playing his first game at home on Monday.
Third time’s a charm
Going, going … going, gone.
Josh Harrison, Ryan Zimmerman and Yadiel Hernandez hit three consecutive solo home runs in the bottom of the third inning against Steve Cishek in the Nationals’ 7-6 loss to the Astros on Monday. The balls exited the park from left, left-center and center field, respectively.
“Cishek’s not an easy guy to face,” Zimmerman said. “I thought we had a bunch of good at-bats before that, as well.”
The Spring Training exhibition marked the first time the Nats belted three home runs in a row since June 9, 2019, against the Padres. That afternoon, Howie Kendrick, Trea Turner, Adam Eaton and Anthony Rendon went yard in the eighth inning off former National Craig Stammen.
Quick afternoon for Voth
Austin Voth only needed seven pitches to get out of a 1-2-3 inning in Monday’s start. Martinez stuck with his approach of one pitcher per inning, so it was quick work for last season’s fifth starter. Voth said he felt “strong” as he competes to remain in the starting rotation.
“My outlook on the season right now is just to make the team,” Voth said. “Keep it day to day in Spring Training, and see what happens. But I know if I perform well that I'll be a part of this team."
Kieboom comes out swinging
When Carter Kieboom looked back on his 2020 season at the plate, he felt like he was missing pitches and fouling off the ball too often. This winter, he worked on simplifying and fine-tuning his swing, and he showed off the results in his Spring Training debut.
In his first at-bat, Kieboom sent a long single into center field off Astros starter Nivaldo Rodriguez. He finished the day 2-for-3 with a pair of hits, including stretching a misplayed deep fly ball to center into a triple.
Building up Romero
Lefty Seth Romero will throw a live batting practice session on Tuesday, the Nationals’ first off-day of Spring Training. The goal is for Washington’s No. 7 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, to get stretched out as a potential starter. He also could be an option as a multiple-innings reliever.
Romero, 24, made his Major League debut last season. He appeared in 2 2/3 relief innings over three games before breaking his right hand in late August.
“I watch him now -- he’s throwing the ball really, really well,” Martinez said. “But he’s a young kid that hasn’t pitched that much. We’ve got to get him stretched out and get him confident, and we’ll see where it goes from there.”