Gregory Soto Bio
Gregory Soto (born February 11, 1995) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed reliever known for his high velocity, he has also played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Mets. He is a two-time American League All-Star.
Soto made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers in 2019 and quickly developed into one of the league’s hardest-throwing closers. Across stops in Detroit, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New York, he built a reputation as a power arm out of the bullpen before joining the Pirates on a one-year contract in December 2025.
Early Life and Background
Gregory Soto was born on February 11, 1995, in the Dominican Republic. Growing up in a country with a deep baseball tradition, he developed his game on local fields before attracting the attention of Major League scouts as a teenager. His background and frame helped shape the powerful left-handed delivery that has defined his professional career.
At a young age, Soto committed himself to pitching and continued refining his mechanics in the Dominican amateur system. His velocity quickly stood out, and his path to professional baseball moved through the international signing route that many young Dominican players travel on their way to MLB.
Path to Baseball
Soto signed with the Detroit Tigers as an international free agent on December 26, 2012. He made his professional debut in 2013 with the Dominican Summer League Tigers, where he pitched to a 1–2 record and 4.82 ERA in 16 games, including 12 starts. He returned to the Dominican Summer League in 2014 and improved, going 5–3 with a 3.20 ERA across 16 games.
In 2015, Soto advanced to the Gulf Coast Tigers and Connecticut Tigers, posting a combined 2–5 record and 3.23 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 39 innings. He spent 2016 with Connecticut, where he went 3–2 with a 3.03 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 15 starts. His progress through the lower levels of the Tigers system set the stage for a breakthrough 2017 season, when he split the year between the West Michigan Whitecaps and the Lakeland Flying Tigers.
Across those two clubs, Soto went 12–2 with a 2.25 ERA and 144 strikeouts, earning Tigers minor league pitcher of the year honors. On November 20, 2017, the Tigers added him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, signaling that his MLB debut was drawing closer.
Gregory Soto Career
Early Career (2019)
Soto spent the 2018 season with Lakeland, going 8–8 with a 4.45 ERA in 113 innings. On January 11, 2019, Major League Baseball suspended him for 20 games under the conduct detrimental to baseball policy, with the suspension running from Opening Day. He was activated on April 20 and optioned to Lakeland, then promoted to the Erie SeaWolves after one outing.
He made his major league debut on May 11, 2019, against the Minnesota Twins, starting the second game of a doubleheader as the 26th man. Soto appeared mostly in middle relief for the Tigers, making seven starts among 33 appearances and posting a 5.77 ERA with 45 strikeouts, laying the groundwork for a full-time bullpen role.
Detroit Tigers Era (2020–2022)
Soto made the Tigers roster out of the 2020 summer camp and earned his first career save on August 29, 2020, against the Twins. Across 27 relief appearances that season, he went 0–1 with a 4.30 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 23 innings.
In 2021, Soto became the Tigers’ primary closer. He earned the save in a 3–2 Opening Day win over Cleveland on April 1 and was selected to the 2021 American League All-Star team after going 4–1 with a 2.18 ERA. He finished the year 6–3 with a 3.39 ERA, 18 saves in 19 chances, and 76 strikeouts in 63 2/3 innings before a fractured finger ended his season in September.
Soto continued as the Tigers’ closer in 2022, earning his second consecutive All-Star selection on July 10. He finished with 30 saves, a 3.28 ERA, and 60 strikeouts across 64 games and 60 1/3 innings, cementing his status as one of the league’s hardest-throwing late-inning options.
Philadelphia Phillies Era (2023–2024)
On January 7, 2023, the Tigers traded Soto and Kody Clemens to the Philadelphia Phillies for Matt Vierling, Nick Maton, and Donny Sands. He signed a one-year, $3.9 million contract on January 13 and made 69 bullpen appearances for Philadelphia, compiling a 4.62 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 3 saves in 60 1/3 innings.
In 2024, Soto recorded a 4.08 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 2 saves across 35 1/3 innings in 43 appearances before being traded again.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2024–2025)
On July 30, 2024, the Phillies traded Soto to the Baltimore Orioles for minor league pitchers Seth Johnson and Moisés Chace. He joined the Orioles bullpen and appeared in their AL Wild Card series, though Baltimore was eliminated by the Kansas City Royals. Across 45 games for Baltimore in 2025, Soto posted a 3.96 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings.
New York Mets Era (2025)
On July 25, 2025, the Orioles traded Soto to the New York Mets for minor league pitchers Wellington Aracena and Cameron Foster. In 25 appearances for New York, he compiled a 1–3 record and 4.50 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 24 innings.
Pittsburgh Pirates Era (2025–Present)
On December 16, 2025, Soto signed a one-year, $7.75 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, bringing his power left-handed arm to the Pittsburgh bullpen. The agreement marked a fresh chapter after a busy stretch of trades across the American and National Leagues.
Driving Style and Strengths
Soto is mainly a two-pitch pitcher. He throws a sinking two-seam fastball that sits 94–99 miles per hour and tops out at 101, along with a slider in the 86–93 range that can reach 93. He also mixes in an occasional four-seam fastball averaging 96–99, making him one of the hardest-throwing left-handed relievers in the league.
Notable Events and Milestones
Soto’s signature moments include earning his first career save in 2020, locking down the save on Opening Day 2021, and earning back-to-back American League All-Star selections in 2021 and 2022. He finished 2022 with 30 saves, the highest single-season total of his career.
Gregory Soto Career Highlights
Across his MLB career, Gregory Soto has recorded double-digit save totals in multiple seasons and has been one of the hardest-throwing left-handed relievers in the league. His two American League All-Star selections bookended his time as the Tigers’ closer, and he has remained a steady late-inning option for several contending clubs.
Detroit Tigers Highlights
Soto posted his most prolific save totals in Detroit, finishing 2021 with 18 saves in 19 opportunities and 2022 with 30 saves. His first career save came on August 29, 2020, against the Minnesota Twins, and his All-Star Game appearances followed in 2021 and 2022.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond Detroit, Soto served as a power left-handed setup man and occasional closer for the Phillies, Orioles, and Mets. He appeared in the 2024 AL Wild Card series with Baltimore and contributed high-leverage innings for each club that acquired him.
Gregory Soto Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Gregory Soto is a native of the Dominican Republic. Public details about his parents, extended family, and personal relationships are not widely documented.
2025 Season Performance
Soto’s 2025 season was split between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets. He posted a 3.96 ERA with 44 strikeouts across 36 1/3 innings in 45 appearances for Baltimore before being dealt to the Mets in late July. With New York, he appeared in 25 games, going 1–3 with a 4.50 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 24 innings.
Following the season, Soto reached free agency and signed a one-year, $7.75 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 16, 2025. The deal positions him to compete for a late-inning role in the Pirates bullpen heading into 2026, with the contract running through the 2027 season.