Twins Daily 2024 Top Prospects: #8 Charlee Soto, RHP

Age: 18 (DOB: 8/31/2005)
2023 Stats: Did not pitch
ETA: 2027
2023 Ranking: NR

National Top 100 Rankings
BA: NR | MLB: NR | ATH: NR | BP: NR

What's To Like
At the time he was drafted last year, Charlee Soto was still only 17 years old, making him one of the youngest pitchers in the class. Despite his youth, the prep star out of Florida already has plenty of advanced traits.

His physical maturity and velocity are what really stand out. By the time he finished high school, Soto was already 6-foot-3 and over 200 lbs. His teenage growth spurt compelled the pitcher and shortstop to abandon his ambitions of being a two-way player, but his size helped him unlock new levels of heat on the mound.

"As his position solidified, so did his work in the weight room and he added significant muscle, especially in his lower half," wrote Melissa Lockard in a pre-draft profile on Soto for The Athletic. "He also took on a six-month program focused on ensuring the health and strength of his scapula."

The work he put in helped Soto's fastball velocity jump into the upper-90s. "He’s a power pitcher, through and through," said Lockard, "with a circle changeup that sits in the mid- to high-80s and a sharp slider." Keith Law, who ranked Soto as the fourth-best prep pitcher in the draft, rated all three as plus pitches, complimenting the changeup's "hard, fading action." 

"Ten years ago I would have argued for him as a top-10 pick," said Law, "but the history of high school pitchers works against him."

What's Left To Work On
The "history of high school pitchers" that Law referenced is what keeps optimism around Soto somewhat tempered, and is also what has generally kept Minnesota from taking these kinds of high-stakes gambles. Projecting pitchers from such a young age is exceedingly difficult. The flame-out rate is high, even for those who look like slam-dunks coming into the draft. Kohl Stewart is one example of the downside from recent Twins history.

There's much to like about Soto based on what we've seen from the showcases, what we've heard from the scouts, and what we've read about his commitment to the game. Until he actually steps on a professional mound and performs, none of that means a whole lot. Soto needs to prove he can physically withstand through the rigors of a pro regimen, and that his stuff will play against pro hitters. Those are no givens, for anyone, although the strength-building work he's done and the standout quality of his stuff make Soto a great bet to hit the ground running this year. 

What's Next
It will be very interesting to see how the organization handles Soto from a usage and workload standpoint. On the one hand, they've grown increasingly conservative about pushing minor-league arms in general; their most prominent prep pitching prospect, Marco Raya, has seen his workload strictly capped since being drafted. (Though he still managed to reach Double-A by age 20.) On the other hand, among Soto's most appealing traits were his "traditional starter's build" and all of the groundwork he's laid to be a durable workhorse type arm.

It would come as no surprise if the Twins start slow with Soto and let him dictate his own pace. Extended spring training and rookie ball could be in his near future. If the right-hander spends a decent chunk of the 2024 season at Single-A, that would be a huge step, and could put easily put him in the mix as the system's top pitching prospect, if not one of the better ones in all of baseball. We just need to see it.

Twins Daily 2024 Top Prospects Countdown

20. Zebby Matthews, RHP
19. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP
18. Ricardo Olivar, OF
17. Connor Prielipp, LHP
16. Matt Canterino, RHP
15. Yunior Severino, 1B
14. Danny De Andrade, SS
13. C.J. Culpepper, RHP
12. Kala'i Rosario, OF
11. Luke Keaschall, 2B
10. Tanner Schobel, 2B
9. Brandon Winokur, OF
8. Charlee Soto, RHP

Check back on Monday when we reveal our No. 7 prospect! For now, let's hear your thoughts about Soto and what this season will hold for him.