Alejandro Soto

Jesus Alejandro Soto Sanchez

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 5", Weight 230 lb.

• Born February 13, 1986 in Huatabampo, Sonora Mexico

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Alejandro Soto has played in the minor leagues since 2006 (through 2014).

He began his career in the San Diego Padres system, going 3-2 with a 1.84 ERA in 15 games (9 starts) for the DSL Padres in 2006. He struck out 62 and walked only 9 in 63 2/3 IP. He joined the Mexican League following that campaign, pitching for the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in 2007 (1-1, 5.68 in 4 G). In 2008, he joined the Guerreros de Oaxaca, where he has remained since (as of 2014). He was 1-11 with a 6.98 ERA his first year for Oaxaca (which was 30-75 overall); he tied for second in the Mexican League in losses.

Soto was 3-0 with a 6.03 ERA for the 2009 Guerreros and was 1-0 with 1 1/3 shutout innings for them in 2010. He struggled in 2011 (3-3, 8.67 ERA, 1.99 WHIP); he had the worst ERA on the team; Josh Towers was next-worst at 7.94. He improved to 3-4, 4.98 in 37 games in 2012. 2013 was his first 10-win season, when he went 12-4 with a 4.28 ERA in 20 starts to tie Amauri Sanit for the league lead in victories. He walked only 28 in 115 2/3 IP.

The Sonora native was 4-4 with a 4.70 ERA for the Mayos de Navojoa in the winter of 2013-2014. For Oaxaca in 2014, he posted a 8-9, 3.97 record and was 6th in the Mexican League with 106 strikeouts. He slumped to 3-6, 6.75 for Navojoa in 2014-2015, 6th in the Mexican Pacific League in losses. He had a 7-6, 5.11 record for the 2015 Oaxaca club. Moving to the Venados de Mazatlán in 2015-2016, he was 4-4 with a 2.50 ERA and walked only 12 in 72 innings. He led the LMP in ERA, .18 ahead of Rolando Valdez. In the 2016 Caribbean Series, he beat the Tigres de Aragua and helped Mazatlan to the title. He allowed two runs in 5 2/3 IP; it was his lone appearance of the Series.

He got the first start for the Mexican national team in the 2016 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, against the Czech Republic. He struck out 7 in three hitless, scoreless innings. Mark Serrano relieved him with a 2-0 lead and Mexico went on to a 2-1 win. He tied Humberto Mejia and Steven Kent for 5th in all the qualifiers in strikeouts. Mexico easily won their pool to advance to the 2017 World Baseball Classic. His summer did not go as well as he struggled for Oaxaca (2-7, 4.69) and was traded to the Leones de Yucatán for Manuel Cruz. Going 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA for the Leones, he finished the year tied for 7th in the LMB in defeats.