Isael Soto Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1251
AVG	.221
OBP	.286
SLG	.38
HR	37

Full name Isael Arody Soto
Born 11/02/1996 in Bani, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: L

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The second-highest paid player in the Marlins' 2013 international signing class, Soto signed for $310,000. He missed much of the 2015 season with a torn meniscus in his left knee and then--after hitting .261 in 113 games at low Class A Greensboro in 2016--he missed the entire 2017 season due to a fractured foot suffered during spring training. The 6-foot Soto has some of the best raw power of any hitter in the Marlins organization, with short but strong arms that help produce above-average bat speed. A lefthanded hitter, Soto hit .262/.336/.434 against righthanders in 2016 but struggled against lefties, hitting .209 in 115 at-bats. If Soto can improve his pitch recognition and his platoon splits, he has the potential to be an above-average right fielder with a strong arm. Soto has never been much of a threat on the basepaths, stealing just four bases from 2014-16. Soto resumed playing in the Dominican instructional league in 2107 and should be fully healthy for spring training. Assuming all goes well, an early-season assignment to high Class A Jupiter is likely.
Soto's $310,000 bonus was the second-highest payout behind Jhonny Santos among Miami's 2013 international signings. The Marlins were comfortable enough with his makeup to jump him straight to the U.S. The stocky Soto has short arms that produce above-average bat speed and he consistently puts the barrel to fastballs. His full-season debut showed promise, especially against righthanders. But he struggled against lefthanders (.211/.280/.316), with one evaluator saying Soto did not make the adjustments to seeing more spin than he had previously. He has plus raw power to the gaps, more doubles power than over-the fence pop because of his line-drive bat path. Soto was a center fielder when he signed but has played primarily right field as a pro. He's an average defender in the corner with a slightly above-average arm. He's an average runner for now who could slow with age. One of the Marlins' better low-minors bats, Soto will reach high Class A Jupiter at some point in 2017.
Soto signed for $310,000 in 2013 and was part of the Marlins' international haul of 32 players. He received the organization's second-largest outlay that summer behind Jhonny Santos. The physically mature lefthanded hitter missed more than two months in 2015 because of an injury to the meniscus of his left knee. While Soto has short arms, he has excellent bat speed and a smooth swing path that generates plus raw power. He consistently barrels pitches and takes a direct trajectory to the ball. Soto hangs in well against lefthanders, especially for a player of his age and inexperience. He's aggressive to a fault at times and could improve his control of the strike zone. Signed as a center fielder, he played most of his games in right field in 2015, which likely is his future position given his already sturdy frame. He's an average defender with an average arm. He's an average runner. Soto was healthy enough to return to the field in instructional league, and he faces a probable return engagement at low Class A Greensboro, where he logged just 17 games in 2015.
Part of Miami's 2013 international signing class, Soto signed for $310,000, and the Marlins jumped him straight to the U.S. when he made his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League as a 17-year-old in 2014. His present strength was evident, as he slugged .426 and ranked second in the GCL with seven home runs. Soto is raw, but he opened eyes in the GCL, putting up better numbers at a younger age than Marcell Ozuna did at the same level. He earns some comparisons with Ozuna, and other comps to a lefthanded version of Raul Mondesi, thanks to his stocky body and plus, right-field arm. The ball sounds different coming off Soto's bat, and he's aggressive, at times to a fault, as are many young sluggers. He also has short, stocky arms that contribute to his short swing and direct path to the ball. He makes fair contact and consistently gets to his power in games, driving the ball to all fields. He's an average runner now, and the Marlins may give him some time in center field in 2015. The Marlins don't need young outfielders'they already have three in Miami'so Soto doesn't need to be fast-tracked. Nevertheless, he's headed to low Class A Greensboro for 2015. He fits the profile of a corner outfielder as long as he keeps hitting.

Minor League Top Prospects

After the Marlins signed Soto for $310,000, he made an immediate impression on the organization by hitting six home runs over the course of about a month in Dominican instructional league. The Marlins were so impressed that they pushed him to the GCL this season, where he continued to show impressive game power for a 17-year-old. With a strong, compact frame, Soto is built like a lefthanded Raul Mondesi and has a tool set reminiscent of Marcell Ozuna, another Marlins signing out of the Dominican Republic. Soto has plus raw power and takes a short, quick swing with a good bat path that allows his power to play in games. He could benefit from a more patient hitting approach, but his game will always be more about power instead of hitting for average. He doesn't swing and miss excessively, and he does drive the ball with authority to all fields. Soto played all three outfield spots in the GCL, but he probably will settle in as a right fielder, where his average speed and plus arm give him the chance to be above-average defender.