Following a month in which he hit .317 (26-for-82) with six doubles, six homers, 15 RBI, 18 walks and 19 runs scored in 24 games, Nationals outfielder Juan Soto was named the National League Rookie of the Month on Monday. Major League Baseball made the announcement on MLB Network.
Soto, 19, led National League rookies in batting average (.317), on-base percentage (.440), slugging percentage (.610), OPS (1.050), home runs (6) and walks (18). He ranked second in doubles (6), hits (26) and was third with 15 RBI for the month. He hit safely in 18 of the 24 games and reached base safely in 22 of the 24 games during the month of June.
The highlights of Soto's first full month in the Major Leagues came on June 13 at New York (AL) and June 29 at Philadelphia, when he recorded his first two career multi-home run games. By recording two multi-home run games, he became the fourth teenager in Major League history to record at least two multi-home run games (Bryce Harper - 2012, Ken Griffey Jr - 1989, Mel Ott - 1928). He finished the June 29 contest by going 4-for-6 with five RBI and three runs scored, becoming the first teenager in MLB history to record a four-hit, two-home run game.
Soto made his Major League debut on May 20, however, his game log dates to May 15 due to the suspended game against the New York Yankees. Since May 15, he ranks among National League rookies in walks (1st, 23), home runs (1st, 8), runs (2nd, 25), RBI (T2nd, 21), doubles (3rd, 9), and hits (3rd, 39). Among all Major League rookies this season (min. 145 PA), he leads in batting average (.310), on-base percentage (.416), slugging percentage (.571) and OPS (.988).
Soto's award is the third monthly award for the Nationals in 2018, joining Max Scherzer's back-to-back National League Pitcher of the Month awards for April and May. This award marks the fourth taken home by a Nationals player so far in 2018. In addition to Scherzer's Pitcher of the Month (April, May) and Player of the Week (April 16) awards Adam Eaton won the first National League Player of the Week Award on April 2.
This marks the sixth National League Rookie of the Month award in Nationals history, joining Trea Turner (Sept./Oct. 2016, Aug. 2016), Bryce Harper (Sept./Oct. 2012, May 2012) and Ryan Church (May 2005).