Juan Soto’s 2021 season with the Washington Nationals further cemented him as one of baseball’s premier young hitters. At just 22 years old, Soto put together an incredible offensive campaign, batting .313 with 29 home runs, 95 RBIs, and a league-leading .465 on-base percentage across 151 games. His elite plate discipline stood out even more than his power, as he drew an astonishing 145 walks while posting a .999 OPS.

Despite the Nationals struggling as a team and eventually trading away several veterans at the deadline, Soto became the centerpiece of the franchise and carried the offense during the second half. After the All-Star break, he was nearly unstoppable, hitting .348 with a .525 OBP and forcing pitchers to avoid the strike zone almost entirely.

The season also brought several milestones for Soto. He earned his first All-Star selection, participated in the Home Run Derby, finished as the National League MVP runner-up, and won his second consecutive Silver Slugger Award. Many analysts and fans viewed his 2021 season as proof that he was already becoming one of the most disciplined and dangerous hitters of his generation.