We have written thousands of words about Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto.
It’s fair to say he is one of our favorites.
And we have stated countless times that what makes him special is his plate discipline: not his power; which he has, or his extraordinary contact and bat-to-ball skills: his ability to differentiate balls and strikes is top-notch.
Fortunately, the rest of his offensive package is also top-notch: it’s so good that he is starting to emulate some all-time greats with his achievements.
“Juan Soto and Ted Williams are the only players in the modern era with 100+ HR, 400+ BB and 500+ H in their first 500 games. Will Soto go down as the greatest player of his generation?,” MLB Network tweeted.
Juan Soto and Ted Williams are the only players in the modern era with 100+ HR, 400+ BB and 500+ H in their first 500 games.
Will Soto go down as the greatest player of his generation? #MLBNOffBase pic.twitter.com/HdeUfAt9oA
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 16, 2022
It’s a legitimate question: will he?
Of course, it’s too early to draw any conclusions about Soto’s career: he is just 23.
Will Soto Go Down As One Of The Best Hitters In The History Of MLB?
And Williams is a top-five hitter in the history of the sport, so that’s a lofty bar to clear.
But both men had a similar approach to hitting: both were extraordinary contact-oriented batters with considerable power and incredible plate discipline.
It’s not common for a hitter to draw 100 walks in a season, and Soto did it in 2019 as a 20-year old: that’s when you realize he is a special offensive player.
If he manages to avoid any important injuries, Soto has the potential to go down as an all-time great, but it’s still too early to think about that.
For now, we can say he is definitely a top-ten hitter in today’s MLB, and there is a case to be made for him to be considered a top-three batter.
