Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto has a unique way of taking pitches.
Every time that Soto takes a ball, he strides towards the pitcher with his eyes locked intently on opposing hurlers. The move has become known as the “Juan Soto Shuffle,” and it has taken center stage during the 2019 postseason.
Soto's antics are fun to some, and annoying to others. St. Louis Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas responded with a crotch grab after he got Soto to ground out in his first at-bat in Game 1 of the NLCS. During Game 3 of the World Series on Friday night, Astros right-hander Zack Greinke threw a high-and-tight fastball after Soto used the shuffle.
There is no question that the 21-year-old has plenty of moxie. But as he told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN, it is more about psychological warfare:
“I like to get in the minds of the pitchers,” Soto said earlier this postseason, “because sometimes they get scared.”
“I just think it's a fight, just the pitcher and me,” Soto said. “I forget about everybody that's around me — I just think of the pitcher and me.”
Soto is one of the most impressive young hitters in baseball, and he is already a superstar. He clubbed a game-tying homer off of Clayton Kershaw in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the NLDS, and after going just 3-for-16 during the NLCS, he racked up three hits and three RBIs (including a home run) off of Astros ace Justin Verlander during Game 1 of the World Series.
The Nationals will need Soto to capitalize with runners in scoring position as they hope to close out the Astros over the course of the next two games.
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