MLB Analyst expects more from Juan Soto in line with his price tag: "He's potential a top three guy"

Juan Soto has been touted as a major talent in the MLB, and the San Diego Padres outfielder will be looking to bounce back from a subpar 2022 season. MLB analysts have named Soto a potential top-three talent, but he is yet to reach that level and showcase his true prowess as one of the biggest hitters in the league.

Juan Soto has been a promising figure since his debut in 2018 with the Washington Nationals. When called up to the majors by the Nationals, Soto became the youngest player in the MLB at 19 years and 207 days. He batted .292/.406/.517 with 22 HRs and 70 RBIs and finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

In 2019, he won the World Series with the Nationals. However, Soto was traded to the Padres midway through the 2022 season.

"He really couldn't be in a better situation going into this year."

Ranked #12 ahead of his first full season in San Diego, @CY24_7 sees Juan Soto finding more success with the @Padres. #Top100RightNow https://t.co/GIr2n2dVxc

Having made it to the All-Star team in the previous two seasons, Soto struggled for form as he debuted for the San Diego Padres. Even then, MLB Network analysts ranked him No. 12 among the top 100 players in the league.

As for Soto's recent form, former outfielder and current MLB Network analyst Chris Young had this to say:

"I am assuming Juan Soto is disappointed in being number 12 because he is a potential top-three guy in baseball, especially if you are talking about the numbers he is supposed to be demanding. I mean, this is what you are expecting to see from potentially the highest-paid player in baseball."

Soto does have a large contract to live up to. While at the Washington Nationals, he signed a 13-year $350 million contract before being traded. In 2023, Soto signed a full-year contract extension with the Padres worth $23 million, avoiding salary arbitration.

MLB analyst reckons Juan Soto should look to be more aggressive at his at-bats

Juan Soto playing for the San Diego Padres against the Colorado Rockies. [Source: Getty Images]

One thing that many fans and analysts questioned about Soto's game last season was his unwillingness to swing his bat at pitches that were there to be hit. He swung at a lower percentage of pitches outside the strike zone (19.9%) than any other major league batter.

Chris Young believes Soto has to come out of his passive self and swing hard:

"Your best hitter should be ready to swing the bat. He's still a bit tentative. When you are walking so much with the Nationals, when you come to San Diego, you got to be ready to swing the bat. He's one of those guys, like Joe Mauer or something, who has the ability to drive the ball all over the field, but you find yourself being passive."

Young also said that with the likes of Xander Bogaerts, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado in the lineup, it would help Soto elevate his game.