Juan Soto
Juan Soto is a 27-year-old Dominican outfielder for the New York Mets and the highest-paid athlete in North American sports history, having signed a 15-year, $765 million contract in December 2024. A 2019 World Series champion, six-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and four-time All-Star, Soto holds the MLB record for the fastest player to reach 600 career walks. In 2025, he posted career highs of 43 home runs and 38 stolen bases — becoming the first Met ever to hit 40+ home runs and steal 30+ bases in the same season.
Personal Information
Biography
From Santo Domingo to the Majors: Soto's Rise Through the Nationals System
Juan José Soto Pacheco was born on October 25, 1998, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and signed with the Washington Nationals as a 16-year-old international prospect in 2015. The Nationals fast-tracked him, moving him from the Dominican Summer League through Single-A and Double-A in roughly three years. On May 20, 2018, Soto debuted in the majors at 19 years old, having never played above Double-A — and his plate discipline was immediately elite, with a chase rate among the lowest in the league from his first season.
World Series Champion and the Historic Walk Rate
In 2019, at age 20, Soto won a World Series ring as Washington defeated the Houston Astros in seven games. The following year, in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he won the NL batting title with a .351 average, earning his first Silver Slugger and All-MLB First Team honor. In 2021, he drew 145 walks — the most in a full season since Barry Bonds — and his patient approach has anchored a career on-base percentage of .416. In 2022, Washington offered him a 15-year, $440 million contract; Soto declined, and the Nationals traded him to the San Diego Padres that August.
Three Teams, Three Years: San Diego, New York Yankees, and Free Agency
Soto reached the NLCS with San Diego in 2022 before being traded to the New York Yankees in December 2023, in a deal widely regarded as the largest position-player trade of the modern era. Playing on a one-year, $31 million deal in 2024, he slashed .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs, and his three-run homer off Hunter Gaddis in Game 5 of the ALCS helped send the Yankees to their first World Series since 2009 (a five-game loss to the Dodgers).
In free agency, the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Dodgers all pursued him. On December 9, 2024, Soto signed with the New York Mets on a 15-year, $765 million contract — with no deferred money, a $75 million signing bonus, and an opt-out after 2029 that the Mets can void by raising his final ten years of salary to $55 million annually (pushing the total to $805 million). Because none of the money is deferred, its net present value is the highest of any contract in North American sports history.
Career-Best 2025 Season and a 2026 Injury-Interrupted Follow-Up
In his first season with the Mets in 2025, Soto posted a career year: a .263/.396/.525 line, a .921 OPS, a career-high 43 home runs, 105 RBI, 120 runs scored, and 38 stolen bases — making him the first Met in franchise history to post a 40-30 season. He led MLB in walks (127) and finished third in NL MVP voting, while winning his sixth Silver Slugger and fourth All-MLB First Team selection.
In 2026, the Mets shifted Soto from right field to left field under president of baseball operations David Stearns. His season has been productive but interrupted: he strained his right calf running the bases against the Giants on April 3, missing 15 games before returning April 22. Through 61 games in late June, he was slashing .299/.395/.570 with a .965 OPS, 17 home runs, and 38 RBI. On June 24, he exited a game against the Cubs with left side back tightness, an injury the Mets described as day-to-day at the time.
Career Numbers and Where Soto Stands at 27
Through the 2026 season, Soto's career line includes a .282 batting average, 257 home runs, 726 RBI, a .416 OBP, and roughly 44.5 bWAR — a trajectory that already tracks with Hall of Fame career arcs at the same age. He has one World Series ring, six Silver Slugger Awards, four All-Star selections, and four All-MLB First Team honors. His contract runs through 2039, when he will be 40. Off the field, he is represented by agent Scott Boras and became fluent in English within roughly 18 months of his 2018 call-up, using Rosetta Stone and asking teammates to speak to him only in English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How old is Juan Soto?
A: Juan Soto was born on October 25, 1998, making him 27 years old as of mid-2026.
Q: Where is Juan Soto from?
A: He was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Q: Did Juan Soto win a World Series?
A: Yes. He won the 2019 World Series with the Washington Nationals, who defeated the Houston Astros in seven games.
Q: What is Juan Soto's contract with the Mets?
A: A 15-year, $765 million deal signed in December 2024, with no deferred money and an opt-out after 2029 that the Mets can void by raising his final ten years of salary, pushing the total to $805 million.
Q: How much does Juan Soto make per year?
A: His contract carries an average annual value of approximately $51 million.
Q: Is Juan Soto injured?
A: He missed 15 games earlier in the 2026 season with a right calf strain and later exited a game in late June with left side back tightness, which the Mets listed as day-to-day.
Q: Is Gregory Soto related to Juan Soto?
A: No. Gregory Soto is a pitcher born in Haina, Dominican Republic, unrelated to Juan Soto despite the shared surname.
Q: Who is Juan Soto's agent?
A: Scott Boras, who has represented Soto since shortly after his rookie-ball season in the Dominican Republic.
Q: What position does Juan Soto play?
A: He moved from right field to left field for the Mets beginning in the 2026 season.
Q: How many home runs does Juan Soto have in his career?
A: 257 career home runs through the 2026 season, with a career-high 43 home runs in 2025.
Q: Does Juan Soto have a brother in MLB?
A: No. His brother, Elian Soto, is not an MLB player but has appeared publicly alongside Juan, including after his 2024 Mets contract signing.
Career Timeline
Signed with the Washington Nationals as a 16-year-old international free agent out of the Dominican Republic for a $1.5 million signing bonus
Bypassed the Dominican Summer League in favor of a stateside assignment to the Gulf Coast League, where he was named GCL MVP after leading the circuit in batting average (.361) and slugging (.550) and ranking second in on-base percentage (.410).
Made his MLB debut on May 20, 2018, for the Washington Nationals Wikipedia at age 19, becoming the first player born in 1998 to appear in a Major League Baseball game. Popular Timelines He had never played above Double-A.
Finished his rookie season with a .292 batting average, .406 on-base percentage and a .517 slugging percentage — just the 15th rookie in Major League history and the only teenager to finish a season with that slash line.
Hit .333 with 3 home runs and a 1.178 OPS during the World Series, helping the Washington Nationals win the championship against the Houston Astros in seven games.
The New York chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America selected Soto and teammate Stephen Strasburg as joint winners of the Babe Ruth Award as the 2019 postseason Most Valuable Players.
Named to the All-MLB 2nd Team ESPN following his 2019 season — hit 34 HR, 110 RBI, .282 AVG in 150 games.
Won the NL Batting Title with a .351 batting average during the shortened 60-game COVID season. Named NL batting champion (2020). Wikipedia First Silver Slugger Award and first All-MLB First Team selection.
His 145 walks were the most in a full season since Barry Bonds set the Major League record with 232 in 2004, and the second-most by any player prior to his 23rd birthday behind Hall of Famer Ted Williams (147 in 1941). His .465 OBP led MLB and was the highest in a full season since 2008.
Drew his 600th career walk on July 20 at Toronto, reaching the milestone in 3,096 plate appearances — becoming the fastest in Major League history to reach the mark, surpassing Jack Crook (1889–98).
Named to his first All-Star Game in 2021. Wikipedia Also won his 2nd consecutive Silver Slugger Award and 2nd consecutive All-MLB First Team honor.
Hit his 150th career HR on August 26 at Milwaukee off Joel Payamps — at 24 years old, he was one of five left-handed hitters in Major League history to reach the milestone before their 25th birthday, joining Eddie Mathews, Mel Ott, Ken Griffey Jr.
Defeated Seattle Mariners slugger Julio Rodríguez to win the 2022 MLB Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium, becoming the second youngest player all-time to win the competition.
After turning down a 15-year, $440 million contract extension from the Washington Nationals, was traded to the San Diego Padres on August 2, 2022. Fox News The Nationals received shortstop C.J. Abrams, left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore and prospects Robert Hassell III, James Wood and Jarlin Susana.
Led the National League in walks with 145 in 2021, 135 in 2022 and 132 in 2023, becoming the first player to lead the major leagues in three straight seasons since Barry Bonds did so in four straight seasons from 2001–04.
Played for the Dominican Republic national team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he led or tied for the team lead in hits, doubles, home runs, walks, and OPS.
Traded from the Padres to the Yankees in December 2023 mlb in a 7-player deal — the largest position-player trade in MLB history at the time. Set career highs in multiple offensive categories in the 2024 season that followed.
Hit .288/.419/.569 with 128 runs, 31 doubles, four triples, 41 home runs, 109 RBI, 129 walks and seven stolen bases in 157 games with the Yankees. MLB Set career highs in runs, hits, home runs, total bases (328), and extra-base hits (76). Finished 3rd in AL MVP voting.
Passed Yankees legend Mickey Mantle for the most career walks before turning 26 years old since at least 1901, with 669 career walks.
Hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the 10th inning of Game 5 of the ALCS, powering the Yankees to a 5–2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians and sending New York to the World Series. Bleacher Report The hit came off Guardians closer Hunter Gaddis with two outs and two strikes after a seven-pitch at-bat.
Became the first Mets player with 40 homers and 30 stolen bases in a season, and was also the third player in big league history to collect at least 40 homers, 30 steals, and 100 walks, joining Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell and Barry Bonds.
Named NL stolen base leader (2025) and won his 6th Silver Slugger Award (2020–2025). Wikipedia Had never previously stolen more than 12 bases in a season; his 38 stolen bases in 2025 were a remarkable jump and led the NL.
In the second season of his $765 million contract, Soto was off to a hot start in 2026, slashing .355/.412/.516 in eight games before being placed on the 10-day IL with a right calf strain. MLB Returned to the lineup in May 2026. Through early June 2026, had 11 home runs on the season.
