Juan Soto Bio
Juan José Soto Pacheco (born October 25, 1998) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres, and New York Yankees. Soto is a six-time Silver Slugger Award winner and four-time All-Star. Soto signed with the Nationals as an international free agent in 2015. He made his MLB debut in 2018 and was the runner-up for the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year Award. In 2019, he played a key part in the Nationals’ first World Series championship, earning him the Babe Ruth Award. In 2020, he won the National League batting title with a .351 average. After being traded to the Padres at the 2022 trade deadline, Soto was dealt to the Yankees following the 2023 season. In his lone season with the team, he reached the 2024 World Series and finished third in American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) voting. After becoming a free agent for the first time in his career, Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets in the offseason, the largest contract in professional sports history. Soto is renowned for his exceptional plate discipline and known for his unique batter’s box movements, dubbed the “Soto Shuffle.”
Early Life and Background
Juan Soto was born on October 25, 1998, in Santiago, Dominican Republic, to Juan Soto Sr. and Belkis Pacheco. He has an older sister and a younger brother, Elian, who signed with the Nationals as an international free agent once he became eligible in January 2023. His father was a salesman and a catcher in a local men’s league, encouraging his sons to make baseball their passion. Soto’s early exposure to the sport laid the foundation for his future career in baseball.
Path to Baseball
Soto signed with the Washington Nationals as an international free agent for a $1.5 million signing bonus in July 2015. He made his professional debut in 2016 with the Gulf Coast League Nationals in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League (GCL) and was named the GCL’s most valuable player after hitting .368 with five home runs and 32 runs batted in (RBIs). Promoted to play with the Hagerstown Suns of the Class A South Atlantic League in 2017, Soto got off to a hot start before injuring his ankle while sliding into home. Despite the setback, he finished the season with a batting average of .351, three home runs, and 18 RBIs. Soto entered 2018 as one of the minor leagues’ top prospects, starting the season with Hagerstown and later being promoted to the Potomac Nationals and Harrisburg Senators.
Juan Soto Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Soto made his major-league debut on May 20, 2018, becoming the youngest player in the major leagues at 19 years, 207 days. He made an immediate impact, hitting a three-run homer in his first major-league start. In 2018, Soto slashed .292/.406/.517 with 22 home runs and 70 RBIs, setting multiple MLB teenage records. He was named the NL Rookie of the Month three times and was selected to the MLB All-Star Team for the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series. In 2019, Soto batted .282 with 34 home runs and played a crucial role in the Nationals’ World Series victory, earning the Babe Ruth Award.
Breakthrough (2020–2021)
Soto’s breakout season came in 2020 when he won the National League batting title with a .351 average. He also led the league in on-base percentage and slugging percentage, earning his first Silver Slugger Award and being named to the All-MLB First Team. In 2021, Soto continued his dominance, batting .313 with 29 home runs and 95 RBIs. He was named a reserve for the National League All-Star Team and participated in the Home Run Derby.
Notable Works and Milestones
Soto’s signature work includes his performance in the 2019 World Series, where he batted .333 with three home runs and seven RBIs. He has received numerous accolades, including being a four-time All-Star and a six-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
Juan Soto Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Juan Soto has received multiple nominations for prestigious awards, including the National League Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player awards.
Juan Soto Awards Won
Juan Soto has won several awards, including the World Series champion title in 2019, four All-Star selections from 2021 to 2024, and six Silver Slugger Awards from 2020 to 2025.
Juan Soto Family
Juan Soto is the son of Juan Soto Sr. and Belkis Pacheco. He has an older sister and a younger brother, Elian, who is also pursuing a career in baseball.
Personal Life
Soto has shown a commitment to his family and community. He has donated to Dominican athletes in the Summer Olympics and has been praised for his dedication to learning English upon arriving in the United States. Soto is known for his generosity, having given gifts to new teammates to retain his uniform number.