WASHINGTON — The Nationals Park crowd erupted on Monday evening as Juan Soto, an experienced player, stepped out of the batter’s box to soak in the tribute.

This was Soto’s third appearance in Washington since being traded by the Nationals in 2022, but this time, he sported the New York Yankees’ pinstripes. Yankee fans were out in full force, drowning out the cheers for Dylan Crews, the top Nationals prospect making his major league debut, with their excitement for Soto.

For a generational talent who is just learning to rent a car, Soto is on the verge of a lucrative free-agent contract.

“At just 25, he seems completely unfazed by the potential fortunes coming his way,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone commented on Soto’s future free agency, which opens after this season.

“It’s clear that his focus is exactly where it should be.”

Soto is currently having an impressive season, boasting a 1.030 OPS, second only to his teammate, Aaron Judge’s 1.096. With 37 home runs, he ranks fourth in the majors and leads with 109 walks.

These are classic performances from Juan Soto.

It’s noteworthy that at 25, Soto seems to want for nothing. He’s already a champion, winning the World Series in 2019 with the Nationals. He feels the weight of success with four All-Star selections, multiple Silver Sluggers, and two top-five finishes for MVP, accumulating over $80 million in earnings due to his skill and young age.

However, this amount is just a fraction of what his next contract could offer.

Soto is poised to surpass the $500 million mark this winter, possibly securing the most lucrative free agent contract ever, especially with the deferred payments in Shohei Ohtani’s deal.

He’ll enter free agency shortly after turning 26, aligning him with exceptionally profitable young players like Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, who signed for $327 million and $300 million respectively after the 2018 season.

Given the rising stakes, it’s important to note Harper and Machado entered a almost collusive market that year, signing just before February ended.

Before reaching free agency, Soto will navigate some challenges. In the meantime, he’ll garner cheers from Yankee fans calling for him to stay and from fans in other stadiums urging him to leave – all while still being adored in DC.

What should this generational hitter do?

“Just play baseball; that’s all I can do,” Soto said before Monday’s game. “Right now, I’m with the Yankees, and I’m happy here.

“We’ll see what unfolds in free agency.”

The Yankees are in an interesting situation. Having already signed Judge to a nine-year, $360 million deal and Gerrit Cole to $324 million, they’re witnessing a season where Judge might set a new home run record and earn his second MVP title in three years, while Soto could be looking at securing a half-billion dollar contract.

Life for early bloomers like Soto can be easy to overlook; remember, Judge didn’t enter the free agency market until he was 30.

With Soto only three home runs shy of 200 and maintaining a career .959 OPS, he is clearly still just beginning.

“It’s essential to remind everyone that he is likely still just tapping into his potential as a player,” Boone expressed. “And that’s intimidating considering his achievements to date.

“He’s still very young and entering what should be the prime of his career, benefitting from his experience in the league.”

Intimidating indeed. Yet Soto remains positive, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the Yankees clubhouse when necessary while also being the fun-loving guy that can draw a crowd of Nationals staff and players before a game.

He’s not the same young player he once was, and the atmosphere isn’t exactly the championship caliber it once was. But with the Yankees performing well at 78-54 and leading the AL East by two games after a recent 5-2 victory, things are looking bright.

“Nothing will ever be like our 2019 Nationals squad, but this comes close,” he says. “We all get along well, play hard, and everyone is motivated to win. That’s the priority.

“It’s not just about money; it’s about playing baseball and winning games.”

Regardless of how the score turns out, a financial windfall is sure to follow.