Washington Nationals fans may still be processing the Juan Soto trade. However, the club took another step in moving on from its former phenom. The Nationals have assigned Soto’s old No. 22 jersey to free-agent pickup Dominic Smith.
Smith signed a one-year, $2 million deal last week with the Nationals. Surely, Smith hasn’t had the caliber of career Soto has.
Juan Soto won an NL batting title and hit 108 career home runs with 374 RBI in 565 games while hitting .291/.427/.538 in a Nationals uniform. Soto hit cleanup at 20 years old during the Nationals’ run to the 2019 World Series title. And he won the Home Run Derby last year before being traded to the San Diego Padres.
Smith played six seasons with the New York Mets. But he struggled to be an everyday player. Last season, he voiced his frustration and later got demoted to Triple-A Syracuse.
Smith hit a dreadful .194/.276/.284 with 46 home runs and 179 RBI in 447 games. The 27-year-old is expected to play every day, splitting time with Joey Meneses between first base and designated hitter.
Smith wore the No. 22 in his first three seasons with the Mets. He changed to the No. 2 in 2020. Infielder Luis Garcia currently wears the No. 2 jersey with the Nationals.
