| Giovanni Soto | |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 18 May 1991 |
| Birth Place: | Carolina, Puerto Rico |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Left |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | September 5 |
| Debutyear: | 2015 |
| Debutteam: | Cleveland Indians |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | September 27 |
| Finalyear: | 2015 |
| Finalteam: | Cleveland Indians |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 0–0 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 0.00 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 0 |
| Teams: | |
Giovanni Luis Soto (born May 18, 1991) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball in 2015 and for the Puerto Rican national baseball team in the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classics.
Soto attended Advanced Central College High School in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The Detroit Tigers selected Soto in the 21st round of the 2009 MLB draft.
On July 28, 2010, the Tigers traded Soto to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Jhonny Peralta.[1] On July 15, 2012, while playing for the Double–A Akron Aeros, Soto pitched a no-hitter against the Altoona Curve.[2] [3]
The Indians invited Soto to spring training as a non–roster invitee in 2013. He also played for the Puerto Rican national baseball team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic where they lost to the Dominican Republic national baseball team in the championship game 3-0.[4] [5]
In 2015, Soto pitched for the Columbus Clippers of the Triple–A International League. Soto appeared in 46 games for Columbus, going 2-1 with a 2.68 ERA while striking out 51 in innings. Following the conclusion of the Triple–A season, the Indians purchased Soto's contract on September 4, 2015 and added him to the major-league roster.[6] Soto made his debut the next day against Detroit, retiring Tyler Collins on a single pitch, the only batter he faced.[7] Soto made 6 appearances for Cleveland down the stretch, not giving up a run in innings.
On April 3, 2016, Soto was designated for assignment by the Indians.[8]
On April 11, 2016, the Indians traded Soto to the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations, with Kyle Schwarber being transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the roster.[9] Soto spent 2016 with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, where he posted a 1-3 record with a 5.14 ERA in 33 appearances.[10] On October 22, Soto was designated for assignment, once again trading places on the roster with Schwarber as he was making an unexpected attempt to return to the Cubs during the postseason.[11]
On October 26, 2016, Soto was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics.[12] On November 7, Soto was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox.[13] He was released on June 9, 2017.
Soto signed with the Road Warriors of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for the 2018 season. He became a free agent following the 2018 season.[14] In 9 starts 43.2 innings he went 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA with 40 strikeouts.
On April 16, 2019, Soto signed with the New Britain Bees of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[15] Following the season, his rights were acquired by the Sugar Land Skeeters in the New Britain Bees dispersal draft. In 27 games (5 starts) 48.2 innings he went 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA with 58 strikeouts and 2 saves.
On February 14, 2020, Soto's contract was purchased by the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. In 2020, he did not play a game because of the cancellation of the Mexican League season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later became a free agent.[16] After the 2020 season, he played for Criollos de Caguas of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente(LBPRC). He has also played for Puerto Rico in the 2021 Caribbean Series.