Juan Soto believes the San Diego Padres have "everything to win a World Series"
Juan Soto is the type of player every contending team wishes they could get their hands on. Luckily for his team, the San Diego Padres, he belongs to them.
The electrifying 24-year-old came to the Padres in a deadline deal with the Washington Nationals last year. Since his arrival on the west coast, there has been new air in San Diego, a winning one. Padres fans finally believe they have a chance.
In 52 games for the Padres last season, Soto hit .236/.288/.390 with six home runs and 16 RBIs. The 2018 Rookie of the Year Award runner-up, Soto has twice led the league in on-base percentage and once in walks.
Although the San Diego Padres made it all the way to the NLCS last year, their division has traditionally belonged to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won the division title every season since 2013.
Who’s ready to watch Juan Soto today?!?! https://t.co/J0EXHkk3DR
"Who's ready to watch Juan Soto today?" - @ 93.7 The Fan
Although he is still considered a young talent, Soto has a good amount of postseason experience behind him. He won the 2019 World Series as a member of the Washington Nationals, hitting 3 home runs and 7 RBIs in the 7-game series in which his team emerged victorious over the Houston Astros.
Since Juan Soto knows what a World Series team looks like, he decided to give his thoughts on his current team. Speaking to MLB Network Radio, Soto said:
"We have everything to win the World Series,"
The Dominican-born player also added that his current team feels better than the 2019 Nationals.
After a trip to the NLCS in 2022, Juan Soto and the @Padres are ready to take that extra step in 2023.
#Padres | #TimeToShine https://t.co/8cAUkWBqj5
"After a trip to the NLCS in 2022, Juan Soto and the @padres are ready to take that extra step in 2023" - @ MLB Network Radio on Xirius XM
Experts have been very bullish on the Padres this season. In addition to Soto, the team re-signed third baseman Manny Machado to an 11-year contract worth $350 million. The deal is the largest in franchise history for the 2022 NL MVP runner-up, who hit 32 home runs and 102 RBIs last season.
Additionally, 2021 NL home run champ Fernando Tatis Jr. is set to return to the lineup in April after serving an 80-game suspension. New arrivals like Xander Bogaerts only pad the team's offensive capabilities.
Juan Soto could become a 2-time World Series champ at the age of 25
Most players play their entire careers without winning a World Series. Now that he is on a team like the Padres, Soto has a unique opportunity to win both. Although nobody can be sure what the standings will look like six months from now, it is a logical guess to say Soto and his team will be in the thick of it.