MLB has changed so much over the years.
In the old days, players placed a premium on contact and getting on base.
Nowadays it is all about power and how far you can hit the ball.
It is rare to find a star player with an elite batting eye.
But, there is one that stands out from the rest and he will be playing next season in New York.
Juan Soto has one of the best batting eyes in baseball.
Each of the last three seasons, Soto has led MLB in walks.
He does that while still hitting for a high average and plenty of power.
According to Codify, Soto had 73 full-count walks in 2023.
Juan Soto had 73 full-count walks this year and that’s ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/HMrMQXklXY
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) December 19, 2023
Most players in baseball will not reach 73 walks in a season.
Soto had that many just from full-counts.
Now that he was traded from the Padres to the Yankees, his batting eye will become even more valuable.
The Yankees have a far worse lineup than what the Padres had in 2023.
You can expect teams to try and pitch around Soto to face some of the Yankees’ lesser hitters.
The 2024 season will be the final one for Soto on his current contract.
He is setting himself up to be one of the highest-paid players in the sport.
It will be interesting to see if he signs an extension with the Yankees or not.
New York did not just give up a hefty package for one year of Soto.
But, the 25-year-old may find it best to see what he can get on the open market.
Either way, Soto wants to have the best season of his career in New York to increase his contract demands next offseason.
The post Stat Highlights Juan Soto’s Extreme Patience At The Plate appeared first on The Cold Wire.