MLB star outfielder Juan Soto is on a new team, the San Diego Padres, but he keeps dominating the league in one specific category: walks.
We have said countless times in this space that there isn’t a player in the league with Soto’s plate discipline.
Sure, a handful of players walk a lot and rarely strike out, but none of them has the kind of strike zone mastery Soto has demonstrated each year since making his MLB debut in 2018.
In fact, if you take a look at the leaders in walks in Major League Baseball, you will see Soto at the top and then a large gap between him and the second-placed hitters.
“MLB BB Leaders: 1.) 108 – Juan Soto. 2a.) 69 – Aaron Judge. 2b.) 69 – Jesse Winker,” MLB Network tweeted.
MLB BB Leaders:
1.) 108 – Juan Soto
2a.) 69 – Aaron Judge
2b.) 69 – Jesse Winker🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/IvQFI2a2S7
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) August 22, 2022
Head And Shoulders Above The Competition
New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge and Seattle Mariners’ Jesse Winker both have an incredible eye at the plate and can work walks with the best of them.
They aren’t in the same league as Soto, however.
Soto may be struggling at the plate in his last seven games, with a .174 batting average and a .304 slugging percentage, but his .367 OBP still makes him a dangerous player.
For the season, he is slashing .252/.413/.481 with 23 home runs, 75 runs scored, 50 RBI, and a .894 OPS.
That .894 OPS, believe it or not, is somewhat disappointing for him: he finished 2020 at 1.185 and 2021 with a .999 mark.
He is a true hitting star who can hit for average and power.
What he does when he doesn’t swing, however, carries almost as much value as what he does when he decides to swing.
He will continue to showcase his extraordinary plate discipline in the stretch run, as the Padres try to secure a spot in the playoffs.
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