2024 Prospect Previews: Charlee Soto

In addition to having the good fortune to move up eight spots in the inaugural MLB Draft lottery, the Minnesota Twins had a Competitive Balance Round A pick at their disposal in the 2023 event. With the 34th pick, they took Charlee Soto, a right-handed pitcher out of Reborn Christian Academy in Florida, who was committed to the University of Central Florida.

Scouting and Signing
Soto held his own in the eyes of evaluators in an excellent 2023 prep class, finishing as the consensus 36th-best prospect in the draft with little-to-no modulation in that ranking during the pre-draft process. A converted shortstop, Soto is relatively new to pitching. He was the fourth prep arm taken in the draft, after Noble Meyer, Thomas White, and Josh Knoth, (we’ll set Bryce Eldridge aside, as a two-way player). Soto signed for slot at $2.48 million, one of the largest bonuses the Twins have ever given to a prep pitcher.

Soto has the type of body and physicality you’d expect out of a mid-rotation starting pitching prospect. Shooting up another two inches throughout the draft process, he now stands 6-foot-5 and is an imposing figure on the mound. Soto experienced a significant velocity jump as a senior in high school. His fastball went from low-90s to mid-90s, and the pitch can touch 98 mph. I wouldn’t be surprised if Soto is already touching triple digits with the pitch, and he certainly will after he finishes growing and spends some time with Twins development staff.

Soto has a compact delivery with a relatively short arm stroke, albeit with some effort at release. At present, his fastball lacks the type of shape that will play up in the strike zone. The Twins may tinker with the shape of this pitch, or consider adding a sinker to mitigate the problem. Soto’s best secondary offering is a changeup that he throws with conviction, and that displays tumble and fade. This pitch was one of the better examples in the 2023 draft class (college or prep). He also has a hard slider he throws in the upper 80s. It’s already above-average, having improved significantly in the spring ahead of the draft, with a chance for more. As with many prep prospects, one of the factors governing Soto’s ceiling will be his ability to command his repertoire, which will likely be a work in progress as his development plan is put in place.

2023 Performance and 2024 Expectations
Like many of the pitchers the Twins selected in the draft, Soto did not debut in 2023. He spent time at instructs with other prospects. He’ll make his professional debut in 2024, likely at Fort Myers. 

Soto was just 17 on draft day, one of the youngest prospects in the entire class. I’d expect the Twins to move him along slowly and be creative with his usage. It’s notable that Marco Raya was largely used two times through the order in 2023; the Twins could use a similar approach with Soto. It’s also worth tempering expectations for his debut. Prospects all have developmental goals from the organization, and those often work at odds with performance and outcomes in the minor leagues. Take Soto’s initial outcomes with a grain of salt, be they encouraging or disappointing.

Soto will no doubt be an exciting prospect to track and the kind of talent I’d target with a top-40 pick. It’s an exceptionally quick arm, an arsenal that shows real promise, and a level of physicality and athleticism that offers more projection. The Twins have some exciting clay to mold.

What are your expectations for Charlee Soto in 2024? Where do you think he will start the season? Join the conversation with a comment below.

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