Juan Soto has been mocked for his fielding, as when he was announced as a 2024 Gold Glove finalist, many questioned the validity of the recognition.
And although the Dominican has other important baseball awards: a World Series, four All-Star nominations, five Silver Sluggers, a batting title, he is more eager for a Gold Glove than for a Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Soto has established himself as one of the best hitters in baseball, however, as an outfielder, his performance is considered below average.
But the player does not give in to ridicule and criticism, on the contrary, he uses it as a boost.
“It motivates me,” Soto told NJ Advance Media in Spanish. “I’m not saying it bothers me or anything, it just motivates me to prove that I’m a good defender,” he said.
Soto’s reaction is his greatest strength. It’s something he spends a lot of time on.
Improving his fielding is something Soto dedicates time to. “In the gym, we work on specific hip movements for when you take the first step towards the ball,” he shared.
“We work on how the knee should move, how to literally take the step to move faster and push harder“, Soto explained to NJ Advance Media.
And while there’s no doubt about the impact Soto can have with his bat, the Dominican insists on proving he’s more than that.“I can go out and play nine innings (…) make plays and help my team win games with my glove, not just with my bat,” he reiterated.
The outlet NJ.com highlights that while Juan Soto is not the best right fielder, the reality is that he is not as bad as some sports commentators and fans make him out to be.
Last season with the Yankees, the Dominican ranked 38th among qualified right fielders, with minus four outs above average. He also finished first in putouts (289), fielding percentage (.993) and assists (9).
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