https://www.mlb.com/news/juan-soto-making-history-early-in-careerDisappointing article in that it doesn't mention his dance skills.
He's basically our version of Mike Trout. Check out the rest of the article, it's worth a read.
Because we live in a "squeaky wheel gets the grease" kind of world, we don't talk about the guy who's consistently good all the time, and that's a problem worth resolving here. Soto, remember, is 20 years old. He won't turn 21 until Oct. 25. In his first 924 plate appearances over 214 games, his line is .291/.403/.520, making him 42 percent better than league average. (That's using wRC+, a park-adjusted stat which sets "100" as league average, and Soto's is 142.)
Again: He's 20. At 20, Christian Yelich was playing for Jupiter in the Florida State league. Anthony Rendon was a sophomore second baseman for Rice. Kris Bryant was at the University of San Diego. Soto, meanwhile, is off to -- no hyperbole intended here, though it will certainly sound this way -- one of the greatest starts in Major League history for someone this young.
Best hitters in Major League history through age 20, minimum 800 PA, by wRC+
144 -- Mel Ott, 1926-'29
142 -- Soto, 2018-19
142 -- Mickey Mantle, 1951-52
141 -- Ty Cobb, 1905-07
134 -- Tony Conigliaro, 1964-65
134 -- Alex Rodriguez, 1994-96
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This could be the article, by the way. It could stop here. We've just put Soto in a category with Literally Baseball's Greatest Players, as close to baseball royalty as you can get. To do this, at this young of an age, all but guarantees you entry to the Hall of Fame, assuming you can stay healthy enough to get there.
But we can't tell you simply that "he's really, really good" without at least explaining why, so let's go ahead and do that. It's mostly about plate discipline, truly elite plate discipline. Over the last two years, only Trout, Harper and Carlos Santana have higher walk rates. Over the last two years, only seven players, all stars like Alex Bregman, Mookie Betts and Joey Votto, have chased at fewer pitches outside the strike zone.
That's a great start, but in order to truly take advantage of that great eye, you've got to be able to hit the ball hard, too. Soto does -- giving him a combination that's incredibly rare, inhabited by only the best of the best.
