It’s almost baseball season, which means we are well into projection season. Until we get to see it all play out on the field, we can take a look at how next season may unfold.
Sometimes certain projected stat lines really stand out and get us thinking about how remarkable the season might be for that player. Looking at FanGraphs’ Steamer projections, there are batters whose numbers would set or tie records.
Soto is projected to lead the Majors with a 171 wRC+, signifying the best pure hitter in baseball. He’s already had five qualified seasons with at least a 140 wRC+, and Soto just turned 25 in October. A sixth such year through his age-25 season would tie Soto for the most, with Mike Trout, Mickey Mantle, Mel Ott and Ty Cobb. In other words, Hall of Fame company. And of course, Soto would be doing so in a Yankees uniform. He would join a select group of Yankees to lead all qualified hitters in wRC+ in a season, with Babe Ruth (nine times), Mantle (five times), Alex Rodriguez (twice), Lou Gehrig, Aaron Judge and Don Mattingly. Soto is also projected to lead MLB with a 19.4% walk rate. That would be his fifth qualified season with at least an 18% walk rate, three more than anyone else through his age-25 season.
