Like other members of Major League Baseball’s 2025 international signing class, Red Sox infield prospect Dorian Soto is expected to make his stateside debut when the 2026 rookie-level Florida Complex Season begins on May 2.
Soto received the largest bonus ($.1.4 million) of any international free agent in Boston’s 2025 international signing class when he put pen to paper last January. The Dominican Republic native made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League five months later and made a positive first impression.
As a 17-year-old, the switch-hitting Soto batted .307/.362/.428 with 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 18 RBIs, 27 runs scored, one stolen base, 16 walks, and 28 strikeouts in 47 games (186 plate appearances) between DSL Red Sox Red and Blue last summer. That includes a .311/.372/.432 slash line from the left side and a .294/.324/.412 slash line from the right side of the plate.
Defensively, Soto saw playing time at three different positions last year. The 6-foot-2 infielder logged 230 2/3 innings at shortstop, 42 2/3 innings at third base, and two innings at second base, committing nine errors in 133 chances. He also made seven starts at DH.
Though he was named a mid-season DSL All-Star, Soto was unable to play in the All-Star Game itself in July due to a wrist injury that kept him sidelined for a little more than a week. Nonetheless, it was an all-around productive showing for Soto, who Baseball America’s Josh Norris ranked in September as one of the top prospects from the 2025 Dominican Summer League.
Soto, who turned 18 in February, entered 2026 ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 8 prospect. In his first spring training stateside, he impressed evaluators on the backfields in Fort Myers by impacting the baseball and demonstrating a sound approach at the plate.
“He had several batted balls with [exit velocities] well over 100 mph this spring, already shows solid bat speed, and does a good job incorporating his lower half in his swing,” Baseball America’s Ian Cundall wrote of Soto earlier this month. “There’s definite power in his future, though it might take some time for it to actualize in-game.
“Soto was prone to chasing in the Dominican Summer League last year, but he showed a distinct two-strike approach this spring,” added Cundall. “He widened his stance, abbreviated his leg kick, and shortened his swing, leading to more line drives up the middle.”
Elsewhere, it is worth noting that Soto has added significant muscle to his athletic frame since signing with the Red Sox as a 16-year-old in early 2025. He was listed at 180 pounds then, but is now up to approximately 207 pounds after working with the organization’s strength and conditioning team.
“He’s gotten really strong,” Red Sox assistant general manager Eddie Romero said of Soto in a recent conversation with MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith. “He’s still 18 years old and so really learning how to use his body. And I think that’s one of like the biggest parts. He’s done a good job of adding the weight. Now it’s having it kind of like transfer and keeping his agility and range over at shortstop.”
Given his physical projection, there is a chance that Soto eventually outgrows shortstop and shifts over to third base as he continues to fill out. He has the arm strength to handle such a move, as Baseball America grades that tool of his as a 55 (above-average) on the 20-80 scouting scale. His hands and footwork are also well-regarded.
“He’s got a long way to go developmentally,” Romero told Smith, “but we’re obviously excited about him.”
Now at extended spring training, it will be interesting to see if Soto’s stay in the Florida Complex League is short-lived. He could follow in the footsteps of fellow Dominican prospect Justin Gonzales, who played just one game in the FCL last season before being promoted to Low-A Salem and later reaching High-A Greenville.
(Picture of Dorian Soto: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)
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