Nats promote 19-year-old Soto to big-league club

The Washington Nationals promoted hot-hitting prospect Juan Soto from High-A to Double-A early in May, and the 19-year-old outfielder's meteoric ascent culminated in a call-up to the big leagues Sunday.

In the wake of Howie Kendrick's right Achilles injury, the Nationals recalled Soto from Harrisburg and added him to the 40-man roster ahead of their series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Soto opened the 2018 season with Single-A Hagerstown, but was quickly promoted to High-A Potomac after hitting five home runs in 16 games with a .373/.486/.814 slash line. Over the 19-year-old's next 15 games in High-A, Soto earned another promotion to Double-A Harrisburg with seven home runs and a 1.256 OPS. Soto then played just eight games in Double-A before being scratched in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday night.

Soto is the No. 2 prospect in the Nationals' system (sixth among outfielders in MLB) and No. 6 among MLB outfielders, and received the call ahead of Washington's No. 1 prospect, fellow outfielder Victor Robles, who is dealing with an elbow ailment.