Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | LAA | SS | 16 | 40 |
Grades Update: Jan 2021
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 55 | 60 | 55 |
Jan 2021 Report
Evaluator: Jake Kerns
Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 160 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA, ATL
RuleV: Eligible
Physical Description: Signed as a lanky kid with above-average height and plenty of projection on his frame. Soto has begun filling out, but still lacks physical strength in his upper body. Soto has above-average athleticism and a good understanding of the game.
Hit: Soto altered his stance to begin 2019 and slowly tweaked it throughout the season. It's a crouched stance with a wide base. Keeps his left elbow dropped and right foot pointed toward the pitcher until he loads. Bat stays on the shoulder. Significant amount of pre-pitch bat movement and body sway. Right elbow stays high through the swing. Unorthodox. Soto's best traits in the box are his eye and bat-to-ball skills. Does not strike out often and gets his fair share of free passes. Hits too many balls on the ground, which is both attributable to his approach and lack of physical strength. He has average bat speed and a linear swing, but he does not drive the ball with much of a launch angle. In his brief minor league career, he's notably struggled against lefties. The tool has room to grow, but it will ultimately come with an empty average. Grade: 40
Power: Below-average raw power that plays as well below-average during games. Soto is a singles hitter that does not get the ball in the air. Grade: 30
Field: Good instincts. Shows strong footwork at SS. Moves well to his right and can make the difficult backhand. Covers an above-average amount of ground when moving to his left. Very fluid in his actions. Can make some difficult plays. Grade: 55
Arm: Plus arm strength with strong carry across the diamond. Can make the throw from deep in the hole. Throws from several arm angles depending on how quickly he needs to get the ball out. Quick transfers. Throws were on target in looks. Arm plays on the left side of the infield. Grade: 60
Run: Timed 4.18 down the line from the left side. Shows some awareness once on, but not a true threat to steal. Enough speed to keep the pitcher honest. Grade: 55
Overall: Soto stands out more for his floor than his ceiling. He's an advanced defender with enough speed to become something more than an org piece. His bat significantly lags behind, and he likely won't get the shot to start without maxing out his raw tools. He looks to be more of a utility/backup type, and he'll need to hit some to get there.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench or Utility
Risk: High
