Geovany Soto
Born: 1/20/1983 in San Juan, P.R.
MLB Debut: 2005-09-23 | Final Game: 2017-05-07
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 225 lbs
Biography
Geovany Soto, born in 1983, was a prominent catcher in Major League Baseball who played from 2005 until his retirement in 2017. He made a significant impact during his career, particularly noted for his offensive contributions as a position player. Soto appeared in 797 games, amassing 619 hits, 108 home runs, and 361 RBIs, while finishing his career with a batting average of .245. Known for his power-hitting capabilities, he was a key offensive asset for his teams, particularly during his early years.
Soto's most notable achievements came in his rookie season, where he garnered multiple accolades, including the MLB Players Choice Outstanding Rookie and the Rookie of the Year honors. He also earned a spot on the All-Star team, solidifying his reputation as one of the standout catchers of his era. His career unfolded during a period characterized by a transition in catching styles, where offensive production from the position became increasingly valued. Soto's contributions to the game extended beyond statistics, as he played a crucial role in mentoring younger players and shaping the future of catching in MLB.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 797 | 2522 | 308 | 619 | 146 | 4 | 108 | 361 | 3 | 311 | 673 | 0.245 | 0.330 | 0.435 | 0.765 | 2707.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | CHC | NL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2006 | CHC | NL | 11 | 25 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 2007 | CHC | NL | 18 | 54 | 12 | 21 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 0.389 | 405.9 |
| 2008 | CHC | NL | 141 | 494 | 66 | 141 | 35 | 2 | 23 | 86 | 0 | 62 | 121 | 0.285 | 1620.0 |
| 2009 | CHC | NL | 102 | 331 | 27 | 72 | 19 | 1 | 11 | 47 | 1 | 50 | 77 | 0.218 | -399.2 |
| 2010 | CHC | NL | 105 | 322 | 47 | 90 | 19 | 0 | 17 | 53 | 0 | 62 | 83 | 0.280 | 1546.5 |
| 2011 | CHC | NL | 125 | 421 | 46 | 96 | 26 | 0 | 17 | 54 | 0 | 45 | 124 | 0.228 | 25.7 |
| 2012 | CHC | NL | 52 | 176 | 26 | 35 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 19 | 35 | 0.199 | -378.5 |
| 2012 | TEX | AL | 47 | 148 | 19 | 29 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 1 | 11 | 41 | 0.196 | -378.5 |
| 2013 | TEX | AL | 54 | 163 | 20 | 40 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 22 | 1 | 20 | 60 | 0.245 | 322.2 |
| 2014 | OAK | AL | 14 | 42 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0.262 | 0.0 |
| 2014 | TEX | AL | 10 | 38 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0.237 | 0.0 |
| 2015 | CHW | AL | 78 | 187 | 20 | 41 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 21 | 0 | 21 | 63 | 0.219 | -46.8 |
| 2016 | LAA | AL | 26 | 78 | 11 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 21 | 0.269 | 113.6 |
| 2017 | CHW | AL | 13 | 42 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0.190 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 20 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0.150 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | ALWC | OAK | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 2012 | ALWC | TEX | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
| 2008 | NLDS1 | CHN | 3 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.182 |
| 2007 | NLDS1 | CHN | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0.167 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| C | 763 | 711 | 5504 | 363 | 47 | 42 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | CHN | C | 7 | 7 | 66 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | CHN | C | 16 | 13 | 109 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | CHN | C | 136 | 131 | 1011 | 55 | 5 | 9 |
| 2009 | CHN | C | 96 | 92 | 720 | 50 | 5 | 9 |
| 2010 | CHN | C | 104 | 97 | 762 | 45 | 4 | 7 |
| 2011 | CHN | C | 122 | 119 | 899 | 82 | 13 | 7 |
| 2012 | CHN | C | 52 | 51 | 356 | 25 | 7 | 2 |
| 2012 | TEX | C | 44 | 41 | 358 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 | TEX | C | 53 | 49 | 395 | 27 | 2 | 3 |
| 2013 | TEX | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | OAK | C | 14 | 14 | 103 | 14 | 3 | 3 |
| 2014 | TEX | C | 10 | 10 | 91 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | CHA | C | 73 | 53 | 398 | 24 | 5 | 1 |
| 2016 | LAA | C | 23 | 22 | 145 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 | LAA | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 | LAA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | CHA | C | 13 | 12 | 91 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 763 |
| First Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 2 |
| Designated Hitter | 9 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | MLB Players Choice Outstanding Rookie | |
| 2008 | Rookie of the Month | August |
| 2008 | Rookie of the Month | April |
| 2008 | Rookie of the Year | |
| 2008 | TSN Rookie of the Year |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | LAA | AL | $2,800,000 |
| 2015 | CHA | AL | $1,500,000 |
| 2014 | TEX | AL | $3,050,000 |
| 2013 | TEX | AL | $2,750,000 |
| 2012 | CHN | NL | $4,300,000 |
| 2011 | CHN | NL | $3,000,000 |
| 2010 | CHN | NL | $575,000 |
| 2009 | CHN | NL | $575,000 |
| 2008 | CHN | NL | $401,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $18,951,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 13th | 41.0 | 448 | 0 |
| 2008 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 1st | 158.0 | 160 | 31 |