Liván Enrique Soto (born June 22, 2000) is a Venezuelan professional baseball shortstop and second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels and the Cincinnati Reds.
| Liván Soto | |
|---|---|
 Soto pictured with Corey Seager during a game on September 20, 2022 | |
| Baltimore Orioles – No. 73 | |
| Shortstop / Second baseman | |
| Born: June 22, 2000 Valencia, Venezuela | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 17, 2022, for the Los Angeles Angels | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Batting average | .351 |
| Home runs | 1 |
| Runs batted in | 9 |
| Teams | |
| |
Professional career
editAtlanta Braves
editSoto signed with the Atlanta Braves on July 2, 2016 as an international free agent.[1] He made his professional debut for the Gulf Coast League Braves in 2017, appearing in 47 games and ending the season with a .225 batting average.[2] He was granted free agency on November 21, 2017 after Major League Baseball voided the contracts of nine Braves' minor league players after the league announced the Braves had violated international signing rules from 2015 to 2017.[3]
Los Angeles Angels
editOn December 15, 2017, Soto signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels organization.[1] He spent the 2018 season with the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League. He split the 2019 season with the AZL Angels and the Burlington Bees. Soto did not play in a game in 2020 due to cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
In 2021, he advanced to the Single-A and Double-A levels, appearing with the Tri-City Dust Devils and Rocket City Trash Pandas.[2] Soto began the 2022 season with Rocket City and was named the Southern League Player of the Week on July 11 after going 11-for-21 in six games. At the time, he was leading the league in hits and among the league leaders in batting average and on-base percentage.[2] [5]
On September 17, 2022, Soto was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[6] The following day against the Seattle Mariners, Soto collected his first career hit and home run, with both coming off of Seattle starter Marco Gonzales.[7] Soto appeared in 18 games for the Angels in his rookie campaign, slashing an excellent .400/.414/.582 with one home run and nine RBI. Soto was optioned to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees to begin the 2023 season.[8] He played in only four games for the Angels in 2023, going 2–for–9 (.222) with three walks.
On February 3, 2024, Soto was designated for assignment by the Angels to open a spot on the 40-man roster for newly signed José Cisnero[9] and on February 8, he was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.[10] He was designated for assignment by the Orioles on February 16[11] and returned to the Angels via another waiver claim on February 18.[12] Soto was optioned to Triple–A Salt Lake to begin the 2024 season.[13] He was once more designated for assignment by the Angels on April 8.[14]
Baltimore Orioles
editOn April 11, 2024, Soto was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.[15] He appeared in one game for the Triple–A Norfolk Tides, going 2–for–4 (.500) with a home run and two RBI. Soto was designated for assignment on April 16, following the promotion of David Bañuelos.[16]
Cincinnati Reds
editOn April 19, 2024, Soto was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds.[17] He appeared in only one game for Cincinnati, and was designated for assignment by the Reds on July 30.[18]
Baltimore Orioles (second stint)
editOn July 30, 2024, the Reds traded Soto, outfielder Austin Slater, and cash considerations to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later.[19]
References
edit- ^ a b "Livan Soto at Baseball America". Baseball America. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Livan Soto statistics at Baseball-Reference (Minors)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ Odum, Charles (November 23, 2017). "Braves lose 13 prospects". Journal Gazette. p. B1. Retrieved September 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ^ "Livan Soto named Southern League Player of the Week". rocketcitynow.com. July 11, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ "Angels To Select Livan Soto". mlbtraderumors. September 17, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ "From Double-A title to 1st MLB hit, HR: 'Pretty good week'". mlb.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ^ "Angels' Livan Soto: Optioned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ "Angels sign RHP José Cisnero". MLB.com. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ "Orioles Claim Livan Soto From Angels". mlbtraderumors.com. February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ "Orioles Claim Diego Castillo, Designate Livan Soto". MLB Trade Rumors. February 16, 2024.
- ^ "Angels Claim Livan Soto Off Waivers From Orioles". MLB Trade Rumors. February 18, 2024.
- ^ "LA Angels hint at finishing slugger's comeback with latest Opening Day roster choices". haloshangout.com. March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Angels Designate Zach Plesac, Liván Soto For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ "Orioles Claim Liván Soto Off Waivers From Angels". mlbtraderumors.com. April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ "Orioles place Tyler Wells on IL with elbow inflammation". ESPN.com. April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
- ^ "Reds Claim Liván Soto From Orioles". mlbtraderumors.com. April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ "Reds' Livan Soto: Removed from 40-man roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ Rapien, James. "Cincinnati Reds Trade Austin Slater to Baltimore Orioles Ahead of Deadline". SI.com.
External links
edit- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet