Juan Sotothe talented Dominican outfielder, has left an indelible mark on the Major Leagues since his debut. At 26, he has impressive accomplishments, including four All-Star selections, five Silver Sluggers, a World Series championship, a batting title and multiple top-six appearances in Most Player voting. Valuable.
According to reports The Athleticit is expected that, in free agency, the athlete from the Dominican Republic sign an agreement close to 600 million dollars. This figure would place Soto as one of the most coveted players in recent history. However, The question of whether the talented outfielder is destined to become one of the greatest in history still lingers.. Statistics may offer some answers.
According to official data from the Mayor League Baseball (MLB)In seven years of his career, Soto played 936 games and hit 4088 timeswith an offensive line of .285/.421/.532. With 201 home runs and 769 walks, his ability to combine power and patience at the plate puts him in a special category. A notable aspect is that it managed more than 200 home runs before turning 25something that only a few legendary names have done, such as Mickey Mantle, Mike Trout y Albert Pujols.
To put the value of these numbers into perspective, it’s important to consider that only 16 players in Major League Baseball history accumulated at least 4,000 plate appearances before the age of 25. And within this select group, Soto is the only one with more than 200 home runs and 700 walks. This feat places him in a very difficult elite to reach, a clear indication of his potential.
To project Soto’s future, the MLB analyzed statistics of players with profiles similar to their age. Players were selected who reached 100 home runs, 200 walks and an OPS+ of at least 140 before age 25. Among the 18 players who meet these criteria, nine are in the Hall of Fame.
They all had outstanding seasons up to age 29with an average OPS+ of 155 and a WAR of 6.6 per season. This performance continued, although with a slight decline, between the ages of 30 and 33, suggesting that Soto could expect a similar level in his closest years to 30.
When looking at the numbers of players like Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, expectations for Soto are very high. Between the ages of 26 and 35, Mays accumulated 360 home runs with an OPS+ of 166, while Aaron had 375 home runs and an OPS+ of 162. These athletes are among the best in history and their careers suggest that Soto could reach similar levels if he maintains his pace.
Furthermore, the Dominican has the potential to continue shining if you manage to avoid injuries and maintain your consistency. His ability to adapt to different pitchers and stay competitive puts him in an excellent position to establish himself as one of the best hitters of his generation.
Statistical projections indicate that Juan Soto has all the potential to become a baseball legend. If his career follows the trajectory of other great players, he could have a lasting impact on Major League history. However, as with any promising athlete, the future is uncertain and injuries or changes in your performance could alter your path.
What is indisputable is that Soto has already achieved a notoriety that places him among the best of his era. With the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers interested in signing him, only time will tell if he will be able to take his legacy even further and be considered one of the greatest in Major League history.
