GREGORY SOTO NEWS

Woo hoo! Baddoo hits again, Tigers rookie tops Twins in 10th

Akil Baddoo added another big hit in this charmed start to his big league career, lining an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-3 victory ove...

APRIL 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cruz 2 HRs, including slam as Twins rout Tigers; Baddoo slam

Nelson Cruz hit a grand slam, a solo home run and a double as the Minnesota Twins rolled past the Detroit Tigers 15-6

APRIL 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Detroit Tigers: Gregory Soto has shaky first save opportunity in 2021 The Detroit Tigers started out their season as 1-0 after a 3-2 victory over Cleveland, where Gregory Soto got his first save opportunity of...

APRIL 3, 2021 • DETROITJOCKCITY.COM

Earns save against Cleveland Soto allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in the ninth inning to earn the save against Cleveland in Thursday's season opener.

Impact Soto entered with a three-run lead, but he gave up a two-run homer with one out in the frame. He then issued a two-out walk to Ben Gamel, but Soto remained in the game and forced a flyout to secure the Opening Day save. Soto should serve as Detroit's primary closer to begin the regular season, but Bryan Garcia and Jose Cisnero could compete for save chances if he struggles.

APRIL 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cabrera homers off Bieber in snow, Tigers beat Indians 3-2

Miguel Cabrera homered through the snow in his first at-bat of the season, then added a sparkling play at first base to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 3-2 victory over the Cleveland...

APRIL 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Looks like closer to start season Detroit manager A.J. Finch said Soto "very much has closer stuff," and he looks likely to assume the role to begin the season, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Impact Soto has the best pure stuff of any Detroit reliever, and with Joe Jimenez demoted to Triple-A, it looks like the lefty will start the season as the Tigers' closer and could lock down the role long term if he's effective. Bryan Garcia and Jose Cisnero could also be in the mix for saves, but Soto has the most fantasy upside among that trio.

APRIL 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Overpowering performance Friday Soto averaged 99.5 mph on his fastball in Friday's Grapefruit League appearance and hit 100.9, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Impact Soto was overpowering in his clean inning of work against the Blue Jays, tossing 13 pitches (eight for strikes) and striking out one. Manager A.J. Hinch said the lefty was "really in control of his inning," and Soto looks like the frontrunner for the closer role in Detroit at this point. He saved two games for the Tigers last season.

MARCH 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Solid results so far Soto has allowed one run across 2.2 innings so far in Grapefruit League action. He's walked three and struck out four.

Impact Soto is walking too many batters in the early going, but he's also exhibiting his overpowering stuff with the four strikeouts. The lefty is likely the top option to close in Detroit, as he has greater strikeout potential than fellow reliever Bryan Garcia. However, no one in the Tigers' bullpen has really established themselves as a dominant closer, so it's possible that new manager A.J. Hinch mixes and matches for a bit, at least until someone stands out. Soto saved two games in three chances last season.

MARCH 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Detroit Tigers' Gregory Soto arrives to camp, ready to meet with coaches Detroit Tigers left-hander Gregory Soto explains Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, how he felt in his first live BP of spring training.

FEBRUARY 25, 2021 • FREEP.COM

Clears protocols Soto resumed training with the Tigers on Wednesday after clearing COVID-19 intake protocols, Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports.

Impact Soto is among a slew of international Tigers players who was delayed by visa issues to begin spring training, but he's officially in the fold now. He missed about a week of workouts, but that shouldn't put him too far behind his fellow relievers leading up to Opening Day. After posting a 4.30 ERA and a 29:13 K:BB while notching two saves over his 27 appearances during the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Soto is one of multiple relievers competing for the Tigers' closing gig this spring.

FEBRUARY 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Makes it to camp Soto has arrived at camp but still has to clear intake protocols before joining his teammates, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Impact Travel issues slightly delayed Soto's arrival, as they have for a handful of other international players. He'll miss a bit more time due to health protocols but should still have time to ramp up for the start of the regular season.

FEBRUARY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Hinch grateful to be back as Tigers begin spring training

This year, the start of spring training was meaningful in a different way for AJ Hinch

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Facing travel issues Soto has yet to arrive at spring training due to travel issues, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Impact Soto is the likely favorite to begin the 2021 season as the Tigers' closer, but he isn't present for the start of camp due to travel issues. It's not yet clear when he'll arrive, but he'll attempt to work on his control heading into the regular season after posting a 13.3 BB% last year. The southpaw worked on his slider during the offseason and hopes to throw it more in 2021 after it was quite effective last season.

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing more sliders Soto spent much of his winter ball campaign working on his slider, with the intent on throwing it more this season, Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press reports. "I wanted to be...

Impact Soto is part of the Tigers' late-inning mix. He got off to a great start to the season but really struggled in September. That slider was nearly untouchable last season - he allowed just one hit when throwing it 80 times. Alas, he couldn't always throw it for strikes, and overall he had a 13.3 BB%, which is poor for a potential closer.

JANUARY 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Detroit Tigers: Expect Gregory Soto to continue his upward trend in 2021 The Detroit Tigers should expect Gregory Soto to continue his upward trend in 2021. For the Detroit Tigers, reliever Gregory Soto came out o...

DECEMBER 28, 2020 • DETROITJOCKCITY.COM

Blown save in nightcap Soto was charged with the blown save in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Twins. He allowed one run on two hits, a walk and a wild pitch while failing to record...

Impact This was on the heels of six straight scoreless appearances, a span during which Soto earned his first two career saves. Jose Cisnero cleaned up Soto's mess and now has a 1.37 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB. It would not be a surprise to see Cisnero grab hold of at least a partial share of the closer role and steal some saves from the hard-throwing lefty over the remainder over the season.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Orioles end 19-game losing streak against Yankees

SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Twins win 3-2 in extra innings, sweep Tigers in doubleheader

Marwin Gonzalez singled home Willians Astudillo in the eighth inning, and the Minnesota Twins rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 and sweep Friday's doubleheader

SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sánchez pinch slam, Hicks HR help Yanks take 2 from Mets

AUGUST 31, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Earns another save Soto allowed a hit but pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record the save in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Twins.

Impact Soto now has saves in consecutive games for the Tigers, and he could lock down the closer's role more permanently with continued strong play. Joe Jimenez, who was recently removed as the closer, pitched in the seventh inning Sunday and has an 11.70 ERA this season. Buck Farmer pitched in the eighth and is another option for saves, as is Jose Cisnero, but Soto appears to be the primary candidate at the moment.

AUGUST 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Tigers finish sweep of Twins, pull back to .500 with 3-2 win

Jonathan Schoop hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning, and the Detroit Tigers finished off a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 3-2 victory

AUGUST 30, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Earns first MLB save Soto worked around a hit and a walk to pitch a scoreless inning and record the save in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins.

Impact Soto got off to a rough start in the seventh inning, as he gave up a single to Nelson Cruz and then walked Eddie Rosario. However, the lefty reliever was able to induce a double play grounder from Miguel Sano and then struck out Marwin Gonzalez to end the game and record his first career MLB save. The Tigers recently removed the struggling Joe Jimenez from the closer's role, and Soto figures to receive more save opportunities moving forward, though righty Buck Farmer should also be in the mix based on matchups.

AUGUST 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Yankees beat Mets 2-1 to stop 7-game slide

AUGUST 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cabrera's homer lifts Tigers to doubleheader sweep of Twins

Miguel Cabrera hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 4-2 victory and a doubleheader sweep of the Minnesota Twins

AUGUST 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Save chances may be tap Soto is a likely candidate to see save opportunities after Joe Jimenez lost the closer's job, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Impact The 25-year-old is unlikely to fully step into the role, as manager Ron Gardenhire indicated he plans to play matchups with Soto, Jose Cisnero and Buck Farmer. Soto has a 3.52 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB through 15.1 innings this season, and he's only allowed runs in two of his 16 appearances.

AUGUST 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE