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Cubs’ Soto Flips the Switch in Tennessee

Cubs Double-A middle infielder Elliot Soto has made a jump in his offensive production this season.

For the last few seasons middle infielder Elliot Soto has been one of the best defensive players in the Chicago Cubs farm system. At the plate with a bat in his hand, it was another story. Soto wasn’t horrible, but he hasn’t been good swinging the bat since 2011 when he finished the season hitting .271 in Low-A and 25 games in High-A. Since then it’s been a struggle for Soto to get the ball past the infield. All that changed this season with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies.

Soto spent most of the early part of 2015 batting near .300 and his average has only recently dipped to .259, which is still a four-year high.

“It all started in the offseason,” Soto said. “I’ve always been that guy that has multiple batting stances every year. I simplified everything and from there it was all about working the count. I’m not a guy that’s going to hit home runs. They need me on base and move runners, all that small stuff. So it’s more mental. I need the pitcher to throw more pitches and when he makes a mistake, get my hits.”

What Soto has lacked in offensive firepower, he’s more than made up for at shortstop and second base. He’s a vacuum in the middle infield. He has just five errors this season and committed just four in all of 2014.

“I love defense,” Soto said. “It’s my favorite part of the game and always has been. I tell this to people all the time, that I’d rather go 0-5 with five strikeouts than have an error and go 4-for-4. I can not stand errors. Making special plays, diving plays, that’s what gets me going. Now that I’m having some success with the bat, I’m having fun hitting too. It always starts with defense. If you can’t catch the ball, you can’t win.”

Soto’s defensive prowess will keep him a job in baseball, but it’s his new-found ability with the bat that will make him some money and also make it difficult for the Cubs to keep him. If Soto stays on this trajectory, he’ll be too good to be a utility guy and demand too much money to keep. Soto’s natural positions are too crowded with top prospects and stars in the Cubs organization. Starlin Castro, Addison Russell, Tommy La Stella, Javier Baez, Arizmendy Alcantara and that’s not even counting Soto’s teammate Stephen Bruno, who is in the same boat as Soto. Bruno will likely not make it past this offseason’s Rule 5 Draft. Soto won’t either if he keeps his batting average up.

“I’ve been an underdog my whole life,” Soto said. “My size and everything has been counted against me. Being a mid-round draft pick, I like it. It makes me work harder. When I’m on the right track, it makes it that much better for me. I have to work for everything I get. It’s not given to me.”

Soto is 25 years-old, so the upgrade in his offensive skills couldn’t have come at a better time. As a 15th-round draft pick out of Creighton University in Omaha, Neb in 2010. he’s always been a guy that’s been on the bubble. His defense has been strong enough for the Cubs to move him up and down the farm system anytime they need a body in the middle infield. Last year he spent 29 games with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. Soto hasn’t spent a full year with a single team since he became a professional.

“It takes some time once you get to a new place,” Soto said. “I’ve been moved down a couple of times, and up. And you still need some time to get your bearings. When you go up, it’s even more difficult. It’s cool. I’ve lived in a bunch of different places. I enjoy it.”

Soto’s bat has already made a dent in his future bank account if nothing else. If he can continue expanding his offensive capabilities, he’ll be on a big league roster in the next year. His defense is already there.

“I don’t think about anybody else,” Soto said. “I just try to worry about myself. I focus on doing the best job I can do and be the best player I can be. If it happens with the Cubs or with another team, that’s fine. I just love to play.”

Moves

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt made a rehab appearance in Tennessee Friday night, working out his fractured right wrist. It went pretty well. He played a full game Friday in the opener of a double-header, recording a hit and drawing a walk.

Written by Adam Greene

Adam Greene is a writer and photographer based out of East Tennessee. His work has appeared on Cracked.com, in USA Today, the Associated Press, the Chicago Cubs Vineline Magazine, AskMen.com and many other publications.

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