The Dominican Republic team just suffered a considerable blow with the World Baseball Classic (WBC) just a couple of days away, losing Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a knee injury.
Their offense is deep and powerful, but ideally, they wouldn’t want to lose another top star just days before the action starts.
They are at risk of not having San Diego Padres star Juan Soto on the roster because of an untimely calf issue.
However, the expectation as of Monday afternoon is still that he will suit up for his country.
“Juan Soto did not catch flight to Florida with the other Padres on the Dominican Republic’s WBC team. Soto is sticking around camp for at least a couple days for treatment on left calf. Expectation remains that he will still play in WBC,” Padres insider Kevin Acee tweeted.
Juan Soto did not catch flight to Florida with the other Padres on the Dominican Republic’s WBC team.
Soto is sticking around camp for at least a couple days for treatment on left calf. Expectation remains that he will still play in WBC.— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) March 6, 2023
Soto’s left calf has been bothering him for a few days, but unlike Guerrero, he seems eager to take the field with the Dominican Republic alongside Jose Ramirez, Manny Machado, Jeremy Pena, Wander Franco, Rafael Devers, Sandy Alcantara, and other top quality players.
The Dominicans can certainly use his excellent power and contact skills and his elite plate discipline to produce runs.
Even in a down year, Soto’s OPS was a cool .853 last year, with 27 home runs and 135 walks.
When he is at his best, he can take over a game or, in this case, a short tournament.
Hopefully his left calf doesn’t make him yet another key absence for the up-and-coming tournament.
The DR team needs him, and the world wants to watch him take his exciting at-bats.
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