The Met Files: Juan Soto

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Juan José Soto Pacheco was born to Juan Soto Sr. and Belkis Pacheco on October 25, 1988 in the Dominican Republic city of Santo Domingo. He has an older sister and a younger sister, Elian, who plays in the Washington Nationals organization. Soto Sr. was a salesman and a catcher in a rec league and encouraged Juan and Elian to play baseball too. Growing up, Soto Sr. would toss crumpled paper, rocks, and bottlecaps for Juan to hit with a bat. When he was 14, Soto was a star pitching pupil in a youth baseball academy in the DR. But the owner of that academy, Rafael Zapata, a man Soto has said was “more than” a mentor to him, was convinced there was more potential money in Soto’s bat, and the rest is history. Soto’s impeccable pitch recognition was apparent even in the limited at-bats he got. 

When Soto was 16, he signed on with the Washington Nationals and received a $1.5 million signing bonus. The MLB.com article reporting on Soto’s signing gave the following scouting report: 

Soto has above-average offensive tools and a graceful swing. He is not known to have a ton of raw power, but he doesn't swing and miss often. Scouts also rave about his knack for barreling balls.

On May 20, 2018, after just eight games in Double-A, the Nationals called up Soto to The Show to replace the injured Howie Kendrick on their roster. He made his MLB debut that day in an 8th inning pinch hitting appearance. He struck out. What a bum.

The next day went a lot better. On the first pitch he saw that day against the Padres, he hit a three-run home run. Soto became the first teenager to hit a home run in the bigs since his teammate Bryce Harper six years prior. Just nine days later, Orioles manager Buck Showalter intentionally walked Juan, making him the youngest player to get four wide ones since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1989. 

Soto proved to be a time traveller. On June 15th he played in a game that started on May 20th, five days before his MLB debut. He homered in the completion of the suspended game, so technically he homered in the bigs before he was promoted. Even though he wouldn’t be known for stealing bases for a number of years, on September 16th he became the youngest MLBer ever to steal three bases in the game, breaking Rickey Henderson’s record. Soto was the NL Rookie of the Month three times but still lost to Ronald Acuña Jr. for Rookie of the Year honors. 

Soto became fluent in English only after he was called up to the bigs. He used Rosetta Stone and insisted that his teammates speak to him in English. Soto became fluent in a year and a half.

In 2019, Soto became the fourth player ever to record 100 extra-base knocks before his 21st birthday, and the seventh in history to smack 30 dingers before that. Juan was a postseason hero for the Washington Nationals. Down 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth of the best-of-one Wild Card Game against the Brewers, Soto hit a bases-clearing single off of Josh Hader. In the win-or-go-home Game 5 of the NLDS, Soto homered off of Clayton Kershaw in the eighth to tie the contest, a game the Nats would eventually win. After a subpar NLCS, Soto turned it back on for the World Series, hitting .333/.438/.741 in the Fall Classic, leading his team in homers, hits, walks, and runs scored. He turned 21 years old on the day of Game 3.

Despite missing the beginning of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season due to a likely false positive of a COVID-19 test, Soto qualified for and won the National League batting title, becoming the youngest to ever do so. 

In 2021, Soto defeated Shohei Ohtani in the Home Run Derby quarterfinals, only to lose to future teammate Pete Alonso in the semis. Soto joined Ted Williams as the only players in MLB history to lead the majors in on-base percentage multiple times by age 22. He finished second in NL MVP voting to former teammate Bryce Harper, now on the Phillies. At some point during the 2021-22 lockout, the Nationals offered a deferral-laden 13-year, $350 million extension. Soto and his agent Scott Boras declined. During the 2022 campaign, Soto turned down a 15-year, $440 million extension as well. This time, he won the Home Run Derby. At the trading deadline, Soto was dealt to the San Diego Padres along with Josh Bell for takes deep breath CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, Robert Hassell, James Wood, Jarlín Susana, and Luke Voit. In 51 games for San Diego the rest of the year, Soto only hit .236. 

In 2023 for a full season with San Diego, Soto improved, finishing with a .275 batting average, 35 dingers, 109 RBI and an MLB-leading 132 walks. But the Padres knew they cou;dn’t afford to sign Soto when he hit free agency following the 2024 season, so they traded him that December to the Yankees, along with Trent Grisham, for takes another deep breath Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez, and Kyle Higashioka. Soto would prove to be a playoff hero again that season, most notably hitting a three-run homer in the 10th inning of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians. 

On December 11, 2024, a date that Met fans will never forget, Juan Soto signed with the Metropolitans. The 15-year deal was for $765 million. 

During Spring Training, Soto gifted Brett Baty a new Chevy Tahoe in exchange for giving up his #22, even though it was in Soto’s contract that he would get it. 

Soto “struggled” to start his 2025 year, and at times looked uncomfortable. Gradually, he opened himself up to some of his teammates, especially Starling Marte, and began to rake the way Juan Sotos should. He also unexpectedly made the 30-30 club, stealing a career-high 38 bases thanks mostly to first base coach Antoan Richardson. He would end up finishing third behind Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber in NL MVP voting. 

The next 14 years should be fun.

The Devin Williams signing was made officially official yesterday. Last night, Williams took to his Instagram to address apparent Yankee fans who had slid into his DMs since the news of his defection to the Mets broke. “For a bunch of people that didn’t want me back on your team, y’all sure are mad in the DMs 😂” he wrote in a story.

Michael Marino reported that the Mets remain interested in White Sox center fielder Luis Robert. He also tweeted that the White Sox have been intrigued by Luisangel Acuña in the past, but Acuña alone probably wouldn’t bring Robert to Queens.

Marino also said the Mets might look to Eugenio Suarez as a designated hitter option if Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso sign elsewhere.

Old chum Cedric Mullins signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Pete Alonso received three votes in the New York City mayoral election.

Of interest to the Mets: the Brewers are now “cracking the door open” to discussing dealing pending free agent ace Freddy Peralta away, per Ken Rosenthal.

Francisco Lindor visited the Orlando Magic facility yesterday, where he did a jersey swap with Paolo Banchero, on the same day that Steve Cohen sat courtside at the Knicks game. 

Kevin Mahala is the new “director of hitting” for the Mets, while Daniel Nicolaisen is now hitting coordinator.

Ernest Dove chatted with Met prospect D’Andre Smith.

The 19th annual MetsGiving Coat Drive will take place next Wednesday, December 10th, from 10am-6pm in the Mets Team Store at Citi Field. Mr. and Mrs. Met will make a special appearance between 12-1pm. Fans bringing a new or “gently used” winter coat will receive a voucher redeemable for two tickets to a select Monday – Thursday Mets home game in 2026. Fans who donate will also receive an exclusive 20% discount at the Team Store during the coat drive. (Some exclusions may apply.) For more info click here.