Gregory Soto

Gregory Soto

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 1", Weight 240 lb.

• Debut May 11, 2019

• Born February 11, 1995 in Bajos de Haina, San Cristobal D.R.

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Gregory Soto first reached the majors during the 2019 season after having been signed by the Detroit Tigers as an international amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic on December 26, 2012. He made 7 starts in his 33 appearances during his rookie season, going 0-5, 5.77 and logging 57 2/3 innings. It is safe to say that he was a completely anonymous player at that point, a generic below-average pitcher without a well-defined role on a poor team.

In 2020, he moved to the bullpen full time and showed some improvement, finishing at 0-1, 4.30 in 27 games, with 2 saves. One of the areas in which he improved significantly was his strikeout rate, with 29 in 23 innings (he had struck out 45 in his rookie season) and just 16 hits allowed. Those numbers convinced the Tigers' brass to give him more responsibilities in 2021, and he responded by picking up 18 saves, while going 6-3, 3.39 in 62 games. He maintained a low hit rate with 46 in 63 2/3 innings, and struck out 76 batters while walking 40. He was the team's representative to the All-Star Game, although this was more a question of a lack of competition than his being actually part of the league elite. He returned to the Midsummer Classic in 2022 thanks to another good performance as the closer on a weak team, upping his saves total to 30 and lowering his ERA to 3.28 in 64 games. He improved his walk rate, with 34 in 60 1/3 innings, but his strikeout rate also went down, with 60 Ks, and his record was an unappetizing 2-11. Still, it was another good year overall.

On January 7, 2023, he was at the center of a major trade as he was acquired by the Philadelphia Phillies, coming off a World Series appearance, in a five-player deal. Joining him was utility player Kody Clemens while the Tigers received three prospects in return: OFs Matt Vierling and Nick Maton and C Donny Sands. Soto was the second major addition to the Phillies' bullpen in a short span, as they had signed Craig Kimbrel as a free agent only days before.

Notable Achievements

• 2-time AL All-Star (2021 & 2022)
• 30 Saves Seasons: 1 (2022)

Further Reading

• Paul Casella: "Phillies add All-Star Soto in 5-player trade with Tigers", mlb.com, January 7, 2023. [1]

Related Sites

• Gregory Soto on mlb.com