Two steps into the play, Alfonso Soriano realized he’d made a mistake. The runner on first base agreed, put his head down and chugged his way toward third.
There was just one problem.
Soriano recovered, reached up high and caught the ball. Then he doubled the Astro runner off first.
And it proved a point: Though the converted second baseman is still learning to play left field, he’s capable of compensating for his missteps.
“His athleticism allows him to make up for minor mistakes,” teammate Damian Jackson said.
Though his offensive numbers demand great attention – “I don’t think anyone hits the ball like he does,” teammate Ryan Zimmerman said – Soriano’s future in Washington is likely tied to left field.
Both sides say it’s too early to discuss an extension. But with the season more than one-third complete, it’s not too early for Soriano to form an opinion of playing left field.
And he likes it. Well, sort of.
RFK Stadium has eased his transition because left field is more spacious than most parks, allowing him to use his athleticism. Plus the stadium lacks the nooks and crannies of other parks, lessening the caroms. Jackson, who plays infield and outfield, likes that Soriano always hits the cutoff man, something he says is rare for new outfielders.
“I feel very comfortable at home [playing left],” Soriano said. “On the road, I don’t know the ballparks so I’m not comfortable.
“I don’t like it 100 percent, but who knows. If I play on the road like I play at home, then maybe I stay in left. But there’s four months left. I wait and see. Maybe I stay; maybe I’ll be back at second base.”
He’s exceeded the Nationals’ expectations.
“If the ball is in the air,’” Nats General Manager Jim Bowden said, ‘”Soriano goes back pretty good — left, right. The only thing he hasn’t really mastered is coming in for the ball and his arm angle is not up.”
Jackson said, “He’s been good. I can’t tell you that hewants to master it. Everyone knows that he wants to play second base. He’s such a good athlete he could get better at either position.”
But Soriano has earned respect because of his demeanor and work ethic. He’s known to watch video of opposing pitchers during games.
“I’ve never seen a player work harder in my life,” Bowden said. “This guy is obsessed with being the best player he can be. Our reports were not to that extreme on him.”
AT A GLANCE
» Alfonso Soriano is on pace to hit 57 homers, score 117 runs and drive in 114. The homers and RBI would be career-highs. He’s also on pace to strike out 141 times, 16 shy of his career-high.
» Soriano, who is fifth among NL outfielders in All Star voting, has homered 11 times at RFK Stadium; the rest of the Nationals have combined to hit 14 at home.
» The trade deadline is July 31. The Nationals likely would have to sign Soriano by that time or greatly risk losing him and getting nothing in return.
