39 Facts About Juan Soto

1.

Juan Soto has previously played in MLB for the Washington Nationals.

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2.

Juan Soto signed with the Nationals as an international free agent in 2015.

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3.

Juan Soto made his MLB debut in 2018 and was the runner-up for the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

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4.

Juan Soto won the Silver Slugger Award in 2020 and 2021 and was an All-Star in 2021 and 2022.

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5.

Juan Soto's younger brother, Elian, is a third baseman and outfielder who has a verbal agreement to sign with the Nationals organization as an international free agent once he is eligible in January 2023.

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6.

Juan Soto's father, a salesman, was a catcher in a local men's league and encouraged his son to make baseball his passion.

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7.

Juan Soto signed with the Washington Nationals as an international free agent in July 2015.

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8.

Juan Soto made his professional debut in 2016 with the Gulf Coast League Nationals in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League and was named the GCL's most valuable player after hitting.

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9.

Juan Soto did not return to the Suns in 2017, but he had two rehabilitation stints with the Gulf Coast Nationals, one of five games in July 2017 and a second one of four games in September 2017 before injuring his hamstring and finally being shut down for the season.

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10.

Juan Soto entered 2018 as one of the minor leagues' top prospects.

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11.

Juan Soto started the season with the Hagerstown Suns, hitting.

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12.

Juan Soto came on as a pinch-hitter in the 8th inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park in Washington, D C, and struck out swinging against right-handed relief pitcher Erik Goeddel.

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13.

Juan Soto became the youngest player in franchise history to hit a home run and the first teenager to homer in a major-league game since Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper did it at age 19 in 2012.

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14.

Juan Soto became the youngest major league player since Ken Griffey Jr.

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15.

Juan Soto had hit three home runs in his first five plate appearances against the Yankees.

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16.

Juan Soto finished second in voting for NL Rookie of the Year to Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr.

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17.

Juan Soto later became the seventh MLB player in history to reach 30 home runs before their 21st birthday.

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18.

In Game 3 of the NLDS, Juan Soto hit his first career postseason home run off Hyun-jin Ryu.

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19.

In in the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS, Juan Soto hit an RBI single in the 6th inning off of Walker Buehler and later hit a game-tying home run in the top of the 8th off Clayton Kershaw.

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20.

In Game 1 of the World Series, Juan Soto hit a home run off of Astros' ace Gerrit Cole to start the fourth inning and became the fourth youngest player in MLB history to ever hit a home run in a World Series.

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21.

In Game 6, Juan Soto hit his third home run of the series off Justin Verlander, a go-ahead solo run home run, to help force a decisive Game 7.

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22.

Juan Soto was later named the co-winner of the 2019 Babe Ruth Award.

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23.

Juan Soto was named to the All-MLB Second Team in the first edition of the annual award.

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24.

Juan Soto won his first career Silver Slugger Award and was named to the All-MLB First Team for the first time in his career.

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25.

Juan Soto was named a reserve to the National League All Star Team for the 2021 All Star Game, receiving his first All-Star selection.

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26.

Juan Soto reinforced his reputation as the most disciplined hitter in baseball by swinging at an MLB-low 15.

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27.

Juan Soto joined Ted Williams as the only players in MLB history to have led the major leagues in on base percentage multiple times by age 22.

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28.

Juan Soto swung at the lowest percentage of pitches of all major leaguers, at 35.

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29.

Juan Soto was the runner up in National League Most Valuable Player Award voting, losing out to Bryce Harper.

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30.

Juan Soto became the sixth player in MLB history to finish as runner-up in both MVP and Rookie of the Year voting.

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31.

At the age of 23 years, 169 days, Juan Soto became the youngest player to reach that milestone in Nationals history and the eighth-youngest player to reach the milestone in MLB history.

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32.

Juan Soto reportedly rejected a 15-year, $440 million contract extension offer by the Nationals during the 2022 season.

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33.

Juan Soto was named to the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and participated in the 2022 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, which he won.

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34.

Juan Soto became the second youngest Home Run Derby winner behind Juan Gonzalez who won in 1993; Soto was one day older.

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35.

Juan Soto is known for his exceptional plate discipline, ranking 5th all time in walk rate and 10th all time in career on-base percentage among hitters with least 2000 plate appearances at the conclusion of the 2021 season.

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36.

Juan Soto says he started the routine in the minor leagues "to get in the minds of the pitchers, because sometimes they get scared".

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37.

Juan Soto employs a "two-strike approach" in which he raises his grip along the bat handle and adopts a wider, lower stance, sometimes described as a crouch, in the batter's box.

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38.

Juan Soto is noted for his ability to drive the ball to all fields, even on a two-strike count.

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39.

Juan Soto is statistically a significantly better defender in right field than in left field: in left field he has produced -3.

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