Juan Soto: Professional Baseball Outfielder for the San Diego Padres – Contracts, Stats, Bio & more

Estimated read time 12 min read

Juan Soto is a professional baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Washington Nationals. Soto was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and signed with the Nationals as an international free agent in 2015.

He made his major league debut in 2018 and was the runner-up for the NL Rookie of the Year Award. In 2019, he played a key part in the Nationals’ first World Series championship, earning him the Babe Ruth Award. In 2020, he won the National League batting title with a .351 average. Soto has won the Silver Slugger Award three times and is a three-time All-Star.

Details about Juan Soto’s Background:

  • Name: Juan Soto
  • Position: Outfielder
  • Height: 6′ 2″
  • Weight: 224 lbs
  • Team: San Diego Padres
  • Age: 24
  • Nationality: Dominican
  • Previous clubs: Washington Nationals

Soto is a highly skilled hitter who is known for his excellent plate discipline and ability to draw walks. He is also a good power hitter and fielder. Soto is one of the most exciting young players in baseball, and he is expected to be a superstar for many years to come.

In 2022, Soto was traded to the San Diego Padres, where he is expected to be a key player in their pursuit of a World Series title.

Strengths & Weaknesses of Juan Soto:

Juan Soto is an outfielder who plays for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is known for his exceptional plate discipline, powerful hitting, and clutch performance. Here are some points about his playing style:

  • He is a left-handed batter who can hit for both average and power. He has a career batting average of .283 and 157 home runs as of September 17, 2023. He won the National League batting title with a .351 average in 2020.
  • He has a natural, easy and compact swing. He has excellent bat speed and barrel awareness. He can hit all types of pitches well, using the whole field. He has solid plate discipline and pitch recognition. He is a potential .300 hitter who could hit 25 or more home runs in his prime.
  • He is a clutch hitter who performs well in high-pressure situations. He played a key part in the Washington Nationals’ first World Series championship in 2019, earning him the Babe Ruth Award. He hit a game-tying home run in Game 5 of the World Series against the Houston Astros, becoming the youngest player to do so in MLB history.
  • He is a below-average runner lacking prototypical quickness or range for outfield. He is not a threat on the bases, but he is not a liability either. He runs the bases well and has good instincts.
  • He has an above-average arm that is accurate and strong enough to make throws from the outfield. He has a quick release and a smooth transfer.
  • He is a reliable defender who can play both left field and right field. He has soft hands and good footwork. He does not have the quickest feet or first step to the ball, but he makes up for it with his positioning and anticipation.

Tactical Role of Juan Soto:

Juan Soto’s role within the team is to be a consistent offensive threat and a solid defensive player. He usually bats third or fourth in the lineup, where he can drive in runs and set the table for other hitters. He also helps the team’s overall strategy by being versatile and adaptable, able to adjust to different pitchers, ballparks, and situations.

Hobbies & Interests of Juan Soto:

  • He enjoys playing video games, especially FIFA and Call of Duty. He often plays online with his teammates and friends. He also likes to watch movies and TV shows, especially action and comedy genres.
  • He is a fan of soccer and basketball, as well as baseball. He supports Real Madrid in soccer and the Los Angeles Lakers in basketball. He admires Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James as his role models.
  • He is a devout Christian and attends church regularly. He has a tattoo of a cross on his right arm and often makes the sign of the cross before each at-bat. He also prays before and after each game.
  • He is interested in fashion and style. He likes to wear colorful and trendy clothes and accessories. He has a collection of sunglasses, hats, and sneakers. He also likes to dye his hair in different colors, such as blonde, red, and blue.
  • He is a philanthropist and supports various causes and charities. He has donated money and equipment to youth baseball programs, health care facilities, and schools in his native Dominican Republic. He also participates in community events and fundraisers.

These are some of the hobbies and interests of Juan Soto, who is more than just a baseball star. He is also a well-rounded individual who enjoys life and helps others.

Net worth of Juan Soto:

Juan Soto has a net worth of approximately $20 million as of 2023. He earned most of his wealth from his professional baseball career, especially after signing a one-year contract worth $17.1 million with the Washington Nationals in 2021. He also has endorsement deals with brands like Nike, Wilson, and Topps.

Personal life of Juan Soto:

Juan Soto is not married and is also not in any relationship as of now. He has not shared any such information about his personal life relationships in media. He may later become involved in partnerships, but there is no information regarding his love life at this time.

Juan enjoys playing video games, especially FIFA and Call of Duty. He often plays online with his teammates and friends. He also likes to watch movies and TV shows, especially action and comedy genres.

Juan is a fan of soccer and basketball, as well as baseball. He supports Real Madrid in soccer and the Los Angeles Lakers in basketball. He admires Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James as his role models.

Juan is a devout Christian and attends church regularly. He has a tattoo of a cross on his right arm and often makes the sign of the cross before each at-bat. He also prays before and after each game.

Juan is interested in fashion and style. He likes to wear colorful and trendy clothes and accessories. He has a collection of sunglasses, hats, and sneakers. He also likes to dye his hair in different colors, such as blonde, red, and blue.

Juan is a philanthropist and supports various causes and charities. He has donated money and equipment to youth baseball programs, health care facilities, and schools in his native Dominican Republic. He also participates in community events and fundraisers.

Family of Juan Soto:

Juan Soto was born on October 25, 1998, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to Juan Soto Sr. and Belkis Pacheco. He has an older sister named Natali and a younger brother named Elian.

His father was a salesman in a business firm and a catcher in a local men’s league. His father encouraged him to make baseball his passion. His mother was a homemaker and a former basketball player.

His younger brother Elian is also a baseball player who signed with the Nationals organization as an international free agent once he became eligible in January 2023.

Height of Juan Soto:

Juan Soto is 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 meters) tall and weighs 225 pounds (102 kilograms).

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Contracts of Juan Soto:

Juan Soto signed his first professional contract with the Nationals as an international free agent in July 2015 for $1.5 million as a 16-year-old prospect.

He made his major league debut in 2018 and became eligible for salary arbitration in 2021. He agreed to a one-year deal worth $8.5 million with the Nationals for the 2021 season, avoiding arbitration.

He repeated the same process for the next season, signing a one-year deal worth $17.1 million with the Nationals for the 2022 season, setting a record for the highest salary for a player with two-plus years of service time.

After becoming a free agent following the 2022 season, Juan Soto signed a seven-year contract worth $245 million with the San Diego Padres on December 15, 2022. The deal includes an opt-out clause after four years and a full no-trade clause.

Brands Associated:

Juan Soto has been associated with several brands throughout his career, such as Nike, Wilson, Topps, Fanatics, Steiner Sports, Panini America, and MLB The Show. He has appeared in commercials, advertisements, video games, trading cards, memorabilia, and apparel for these brands.

Teams with Juan Soto played:

Juan Soto has played for two teams in his MLB career: the Washington Nationals (2018-2022) and the San Diego Padres (2022-present). He has also played for various minor league teams affiliated with the Nationals, such as the Gulf Coast League Nationals , the Auburn Doubledays , the Hagerstown Suns , the Potomac Nationals , the Harrisburg Senators , and the Syracuse Chiefs . He has also represented the Dominican Republic in international competitions, such as the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in 2016.

Awards & Achievements of Juan Soto:

  • He was the runner-up for the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year Award in 2018, after hitting .292 with 22 home runs and 70 RBIs in 116 games. He was also named to the All-MLB Second Team and the Baseball America All-Rookie Team.
  • He was a key part of the Washington Nationals’ first World Series championship in 2019, earning him the Babe Ruth Award as the most valuable player of the postseason. He hit .333 with three home runs and seven RBIs in the World Series against the Houston Astros, including a game-tying home run in Game 5 that made him the youngest player to do so in MLB history. He also hit a go-ahead home run in Game 6, then mimicked Alex Bregman by carrying his bat to first base.
  • He won the NL batting title with a .351 average in 2020, becoming the youngest player to do so since Al Kaline in 1955. He also led the majors in on-base percentage (.490), slugging percentage (.695), and OPS (1.185). He was named to the All-MLB First Team and won his first Silver Slugger Award.
  • He signed a one-year contract worth $17.1 million with the Nationals in 2021, setting a record for the highest salary for a player with two-plus years of service time. He also made his first All-Star appearance and won his second Silver Slugger Award.
  • He was traded to the San Diego Padres on August 2, 2022, in one of the biggest blockbusters in MLB history. He signed a seven-year contract worth $245 million with the Padres on December 15, 2022, which includes an opt-out clause after four years and a full no-trade clause.
  • He won his third consecutive Silver Slugger Award and finished as the runner-up in the NL MVP race (Bryce Harper) in 2022, after slashing .313/.465/.534 with 29 homers and 92 RBIs. He also helped the Padres reach the NLCS for the first time since 1998.
  • He represented the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic in 2023, hitting two home runs and leading his team to the semifinals.
YearTeamGamesAt BatsRunsHitsHome RunsRBIsBatting Average
2018WSH116414771212270.292
2019WSH150 54211015334110.282
2020WSH47 15439541337.351
2021WSH144 4781111452795.303
Awards & Achievements of Juan Soto

Scouting Report of Juan Soto:

CategoryGradeDescription
Hit80Soto has a natural, easy and compact swing. He has excellent bat speed and barrel awareness. He can hit all types of pitches well, using the whole field. He has solid plate discipline and pitch recognition. He is a potential .300 hitter who could hit 25 or more home runs in his prime.
Power70Soto has plus-plus raw power, using his hips well and generating torque in his swing. He can drive the ball to all fields with authority. He won the NL batting title with a .351 average in 2020 and hit 30 home runs in 2022.
Run40Soto is a below-average runner lacking prototypical quickness or range for outfield. He is not a threat on the bases, but he is not a liability either. He runs the bases well and has good instincts.
Arm55Soto has an above-average arm that is accurate and strong enough to make throws from the outfield. He has a quick release and a smooth transfer.
Field50Soto is a reliable defender who can play both left field and right field. He has soft hands and good footwork. He does not have the quickest feet or first step to the ball, but he makes up for it with his positioning and anticipation,
Scouting Report of Juan Soto

Juan Soto is one of the best hitters in the game and a clutch performer in big moments. He has helped the Nationals win their first World Series title in 2019 and has signed a lucrative contract with the Padres in 2022, making him one of the highest-paid players in the game. He is still young and has a bright future ahead of him.

FAQs about Juan Soto:

How old is Juan Soto?

Juan Soto is 24 years old as of 2023. He was born on October 25, 1998, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

What is Juan Soto’s jersey number?

Juan Soto wears the number 22 on his jersey. He wore the same number when he played for the Nationals.

Who are Juan Soto’s parents?

Juan Soto’s parents are Juan Soto Sr. and Belkis Pacheco. His father was a salesman in a business firm and a catcher in a local men’s league. His mother was a homemaker and a former basketball player.

How many siblings does Juan Soto have?

Juan Soto has one older sister named Natali and one younger brother named Elian. His younger brother is also a baseball player who signed with the Nationals organization as an international free agent once he became eligible in January 2023.

When did Juan Soto make his MLB debut?

Juan Soto made his MLB debut on May 20, 2018, at the age of 19. He hit a home run in his second at-bat, becoming the youngest player to do so in Nationals history. He finished the season as the runner-up for the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

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