2. Juan Soto, OF
Birthdate: 10/25/98 (18 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie, short season A
Stats in 2016: .368/.420/.553, 5 HR, 5 SB
While Nationals fans see Victor Robles rising to the top of prospect rankings boards this season, they should be on the look out for Soto to do just the same thing next year.
Soto is not the same type of prospect as Robles, as he’s built to be a power hitter from the left side with a smooth swing that can get plenty of excellent contact throughout the strike zone, using the entire field.
He’s also not a center fielder by nature, as his strong arm is more suited for a corner, and he’s a solid runner, but more when under way than through quick first steps, leading to a corner outfield being his best destination.
The reports I had from people who saw him in the NYPL stated that they’d not seen a 17-year-old with an approach as mature as Soto’s come through their league in recent memory.
Soto does have a very unique ability for a teenage power hitter in that he has very solid pitch recognition and zone recognition and the patience to draw a walk, with a 17/29 BB/K ratio on the season, including a 3/4 BB/K rate in 21 AB in the NYPL against mostly guys 3-5 years his senior.
The Nationals pushed Robles to full-season Hagerstown after a similar performance, so it will remain to be seen how the Nationals handle Soto in 2017, but his future is very, very bright.
Next: #1