There was no mistaking the relation when the 19-year old from the Dominican Republic hopped over the first-base line to take his spot on Thursday night for the Nationals.
Wearing No. 22 with Soto on his back, it had to be Juan Soto’s little bro.
There he was, Elian Soto, getting a shot to appear in an MLB Spring Training game for the first time.
“It’s pretty cool to see him and hear about different thoughts, what people think about his swing and all that kind of stuff,” Juan Soto told MLB.com. “It was cool to see.”
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The young Soto entered the matchup with the New York Mets in the top of the ninth inning to play left field.
He didn’t get a chance at a play in the field, but he did bat in the bottom of the ninth, with Juan nearby watching.
Elian struck out in his lone at bat.
Little brother isn’t the prospect his big bro once was.
Elian has hit only .178 across two minor-league seasons.
But on this night in Florida, the Soto brothers were in the same ballpark, sharing the sport they love.
“I’ve been looking forward to this moment since I was a kid,” Elian said. “And I hope I can do that again.”
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