Left-handed reliever Gregory Soto, in his first season as the Detroit Tigers‘ official closer, stared into the outfield before turning toward his dugout and walking off the mound.
This scene is all too familiar.
It was Oct. 5, the final game of the regular season. Soto entered for the bottom of the ninth in a non-save situation, with the Tigers tied with the Seattle Mariners, 4-4, at T-Mobile Park. The 27-year-old flamethrower, unable to harness command of his devastating arsenal, walked two batters, committed a throwing error and unleashed a wild pitch, setting up Ty France’s walk-off single to right field.
“I hate that his season ended that way,” manager A.J. Hinch said, following the 5-4 loss in Game 162. “Obviously, he’s an important figure in the bullpen for us who’s going to factor in. It’s important that we get to the offseason, cleanse ourselves from certainly the last couple losses, but more importantly just the overall vibe that we can struggle.”
WHAT’S NEXT:Evaluating each Tigers player entering offseason of change under new leadership
The Tigers signed Soto, who turns 28 in February, from the Dominican Republic in December 2012. He became the unofficial closer last season and earned the official title ahead of the 2022 season.
Over the past two years, he has converted 48 of 52 save opportunities.
With Scott Harris — the new president of baseball operations — preaching strike zone domination, Soto could be pulled from the closer role. He is projected by MLB Trade Rumors to receive $3.1 million in his first year of salary arbitration, and the Tigers won’t hesitate to bring him back, but his inconsistencies are concerning.
“I finished the season being the closer and I intend to do it next year,” Soto said Oct. 5, with Tigers bilingual media coordinator Carlos Guillen interpreting. “I don’t make the decisions. If their decision is to put me in any other inning or situation, I’m good for it.
“It’s not up to me. I don’t focus on that. I am the closer as of now, but if they see that they need somebody else to do the job of the closer, I’m up for it. As long as I keep playing in the major leagues with this team, I’m up for it.”
In Game 1 of an Oct. 4 doubleheader, Soto pitched in a save situation in the bottom of the 10th inning. Mariners backup catcher Luis Torrens entered as a pitcher for the top of the 10th and allowed one run. The Tigers, ahead 6-5, turned to their closer for the final three outs with the free extra-inning runner on second base.
Soto failed to record an out.
ANOTHER QUESTIONABLE SITUATION:Akil Baddoo finds identity through struggles in sophomore season with Tigers
He allowed back-to-back singles and, to end the game, a sacrifice fly to Abraham Toro for his 10th loss of the season. He was overmatched on the mound by a position player Oct. 4, and the next day, he took his 11th and final loss on a walk-off single. Four of those losses occurred in September, despite a 2.03 ERA and 2.89 FIP over 15 appearances that month.
“I had my ups and downs, but it was an issue with myself,” Soto said. “It was not an issue with the team. I just know and realize that what I did and my performance is not related with the record of the team.”
Soto, a two-time All-Star worth a career-high 0.6 fWAR this season, finished with a 3.28 ERA, 34 walks and 60 strikeouts over 60⅓ innings in 64 outings, logging 30 saves in 33 chances. He particularly struggled in non-save situations, and last year’s dominant slider evaporated, causing his strikeout rate to plummet from 27.5% to 22.8%. His walk rate improved between the two seasons, from 14.5% to 12.9%, but remains worse than league average.
Since 2021, Soto’s 92.3% save rate ranks second among 65 MLB relievers with at least 30 games finished, behind only San Diego Padres left-hander Josh Hader (93.3%). He finished games in 92 of his 126 appearances over the two-year span, more than all but seven relievers on the list.
But his 1.363 WHIP, which combines walks and hits per innings pitched, ranks 57th, ahead of only Daniel Norris (Tigers), Chris Stratton (St. Louis Cardinals), Shawn Armstrong (Tampa Bay Rays), Lou Trivino (New York Yankees), Jorge López (Minnesota Twins), Alex Colomé (Colorado Rockies), Tanner Scott (Miami Marlins) and Rowan Wick (Chicago Cubs). He is 25th with 6.9 hits per nine innings and 62nd with 5.4 walks per nine innings.
Putting that many runners on base, especially without his best slider, is a recipe for a disaster. Elite command isn’t part of Soto’s profile, but he would benefit from either decreasing the walk rate or boosting the strikeout rate moving forward.
MORE PITCHING:What Tigers learned — and didn’t learn — about Eduardo Rodriguez in 2022 season
“I’m just focused on the positive side,” Soto said. “The number of saves, that’s a positive. … I don’t want to focus on the negatives.”
Soto, who speaks English, feels more comfortable speaking Spanish when talking to reporters, so he often requests an interpreter for interviews. Before leaving the clubhouse to begin an offseason vacation tour, he shifted from his comfort zone when asked if he had already reached his peak as a pitcher in the big leagues.
He sent a clear message.
“The best is coming, next year,” Soto said in English. “I know a couple things I have to work on. I’ll go back to the Dominican, rest and come back and do what I have to do. I have a couple things. I can’t tell you guys today, but I just want to keep it with me and then you guys will see that next year.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.