San Diego Padres star Juan Soto played the entire 2022 regular season at 23 years old.
He made his debut as a 19-year-old in 2018, won a World Series a year later and has had three MVP-caliber campaigns already.
His career, so far, has been brilliant.
He is younger than some top prospects that haven’t still seen a day in MLB, and he has been a star for four years.
Soto has the ability to hit for average, has plus power, and sneaky good speed.
He is not a fielding star, but he can hold his own in the outfield.
His calling card, however, are walks.
His plate discipline is the best in MLB, plain and simple.
Not only does he refuse to swing at balls, he will also punish strikes if he wants to.
His walk rate is perennially among the highest in the league.
In fact, he is the owner of a fascinating record.
Juan Soto is the only player in MLB history to draw his 500th walk before his 24th birthday. It's insane. pic.twitter.com/6YzdWkutyd
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) February 8, 2023
Some MLB batters take almost 10 years (sometimes even more than that) to get to 500 walks.
When Soto reached the number last season, he wasn’t even 24.
We will go ahead and say it: MLB hasn’t seen a hitter with this type of eye and plate discipline since Barry Bonds announced his retirement.
What Soto is doing is nothing short of amazing.
One of these years, he will win the MVP award he probably deserved in 2020 and 2021.
Last year wasn’t as productive (.242/.401/.452, 27 home runs, 62 RBI), but he still managed to post a .853 OPS.
He is a truly special player and an even better hitter.
NEXT: MLB Insider Shows Off A Legendary Padres Trio
