Gregory Soto

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Gregory Soto
Soto in 2019
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 30
Pitcher
Born: (1995-02-11) February 11, 1995 (age 29)
Haina, Dominican Republic
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
May 11, 2019, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through April 8, 2024)
Win–loss record11–24
Earned run average4.19
Strikeouts280
Saves54
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Gregory Soto (born February 11, 1995) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers, for whom he debuted in 2019. He is a two-time All-Star.

Career

Early career

Soto signed with the

Connecticut Tigers
, posting a combined 2–5 record and 3.23 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 39 total innings between the two teams, and 2016 with Connecticut where he was 3–2 with a 3.03 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 15 starts.

Soto started 2017 with the

strikeouts between the two teams, he was named the Tigers minor league pitcher of the year.[2][3]

The Tigers added him to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season.[4]

He spent the 2018 season with Lakeland, going 8–8 with a 4.45 ERA in 113 innings. On January 11, 2019, Soto was suspended for 20 games by Major League Baseball for “conduct detrimental to baseball" under Article XII(B). The suspension started on opening day.[5] He was activated on April 20 and optioned to Lakeland, appearing in one game before being promoted to the Erie SeaWolves.[6]

Detroit Tigers (2019–2022)

Soto made his major league debut on May 11, 2019, against the Minnesota Twins, starting the second game of a doubleheader as the 26th man.[7] He appeared mostly in middle relief for the 2019 Tigers, making seven starts among his 33 appearances and posting a 5.77 ERA with 45 strikeouts.

Soto made the Tigers roster out of 2020 summer camp. On August 29, 2020, he earned his first career save against the Minnesota Twins.[8] With the 2020 Detroit Tigers, he appeared in 27 games, all in relief, compiling a 0–1 record with 4.30 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 23.0 innings pitched.[9]

Soto made the Tigers opening day roster for the

Cleveland Indians on April 1.[10] Soto was named to the 2021 American League All-Star team. At the time of his selection, Soto was 4–1 with a 2.18 ERA. He had 38 strikeouts in 33 innings, and was six-for-six in save opportunities.[11] Soto pitched one inning in the All-Star game, allowing a solo home run to J. T. Realmuto.[12] Soto suffered a fractured finger after getting hit by a line drive on September 17, and was shut down for the remainder of the season.[13]
He finished 2021 with a 6–3 record, 3.39 ERA and 18 saves in 19 opportunities, while striking out 76 batters in 63+2⁄3 innings.

In the 2022 season, Soto continued his role as the primary closer for the Tigers. On July 10, Soto was selected to represent the Tigers at the 2022 All-Star game, his second consecutive All-Star selection. At the time of the selection, Soto had 17 saves in 19 opportunities, with a 2.67 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 30+1⁄3 innings.[14] In the All-Star game, Soto came to the mound with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. After walking Ian Happ, Soto coaxed a ground ball from 2022 Home Run Derby champ Juan Soto for an inning-ending force out.[15] Soto pitched in 64 games for the 2022 Tigers, compiling 30 saves, a 3.28 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 60+1⁄3 innings.

Philadelphia Phillies (2023–present)

On January 7, 2023, the Tigers traded Soto and Kody Clemens to the Philadelphia Phillies for outfielder Matt Vierling, infielder Nick Maton, and catcher Donny Sands.[16]

On January 13, 2023, Soto agreed to a one-year, $3.925 million contract with the Phillies, avoiding salary arbitration.[17]

Pitch selection

Soto is mainly a two-pitch pitcher. He throws a

slider in the 86 to 93 MPH range (topping out at 93 MPH). He also throws an occasional four-seam fastball that averages 96–99 MPH.[18]

References

  1. ^ Lambert, Ivan. "Soto named Tigers minor league pitcher of the year - Sports - The Ledger - Lakeland, FL". The Ledger. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  2. ^ "Stewart, Soto earn Tigers' top minor-league honors". The Detroit News. September 27, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  3. ^ "Christin Stewart, Gregory Soto awarded Detroit Tigers minor league honors". Detroit Free Press. September 27, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  4. ^ Woodbery, Evan (November 21, 2017). "Tigers add 8 young players to 40-man roster". mlive.com. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  5. ^ "Detroit Tigers prospect Gregory Soto suspended 20 games by MLB". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
  6. ^ "Tigers' Gregory Soto: Heads to High-A". CBS Sports. April 20, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  7. ^ Paul, Tony (May 9, 2019). "Tigers lefty prospect Gregory Soto being promoted from Erie, starts Saturday". The Detroit News. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  8. ^ Beck, Jason (August 29, 2020). "Something old, new lead Tigers in DH sweep". MLB.com. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  9. ^ "Gregory Soto Stats, Fantasy & News | Detroit Tigers". MLB.com.
  10. ^ Harding, Zane (April 1, 2021). "Tigers 3, Cleveland 2: Miguel Cabrera, Matthew Boyd lead Tigers to Opening Day victory". blessyouboys.com. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  11. ^ Petzold, Evan (July 4, 2021). "Detroit Tigers reliever Gregory Soto selected to 2021 All-Star Game". freep.com. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  12. ^ "AL All Stars 5, NL All-Stars 2 (box score)". MLB.com. July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  13. ^ Petzold, Evan (September 19, 2021). "Detroit Tigers' Gregory Soto out for rest of season; Matthew Boyd seeks second opinion". Freep.com. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  14. ^ Petzold, Evan (July 10, 2022). "Detroit Tigers closer Gregory Soto selected to MLB All-Star Game for second year in a row". Freep.com. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  15. ^ Petzold, Evan (July 19, 2022). "Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera, Gregory Soto on winning side of MLB All-Star Game". Freep.com. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  16. ^ "Tigers get 3 players from Phils for Soto, Clemens". MLB.com. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
  17. ^ "2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  18. ^ "Gregory Soto PitchFX at fangraphs.com". fangraphs.com. Retrieved July 21, 2021.

External links

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