[外電] Meet Juan Soto

看板Nationals作者vg175 (非典型廢言)時間7年前 (2018/02/11 10:02)推噓9(9推 0噓 0→)

留言9則, 9人參與討論串1/1

Meet Juan Soto, Nationals’ next great slugging hope who ‘you’d want to marry your daughter’ https://goo.gl/QR7vDV By Jorge Castillo February 7 BOCA CHICA, Dominican Republic — Modesto Ulloa usually doesn’t work on Sundays, but he reports to a ballpark if someone he trusts calls insisting there is a player he must see. He doesn’t like to say no. Maybe he’ll find a star. There’s always a chance. So a few years ago the Washington Nationals’ most experienced scout in the Dominican Republic arrived on a Sunday to watch a left-handed pitcher top out at 82 mph over three innings. The performance piqued Ulloa’s interest. He decided to stay for a second game even though he knew the lefty wouldn’t pitch again. 位處多明尼加共和國BOCA CHICA－Modesto Ulloa通常週日不上工，但如果他信任的某人通知他有個傢伙一定得瞧瞧，他就不會拒絕去球場報到。總是有機會讓他挖到一顆明星。因此幾年前當這位華盛頓國民旗下最有經驗的多明尼加球探於週日抵達球場，觀察一位投了三局最快球速82mph的左投時，這左投的表現激起了Ulloa的興趣。他決定為了第二場比賽留下來，即便他知道這個左投不會再站上投手丘。 At some point during that second game, a hitter smashed a line drive to right- center field, where the center fielder smoothly ran over for the catch — so smoothly Ulloa had to ask those around him for the youngster’s name. It was Juan Soto, the left-handed pitcher from the first game, they told him. He’s a good hitter, too, they said. 第二場比賽中的某個時間點，一位打者貓出一記飛往中右外野方向的平飛球，中外野手平穩地跑去接球，動作滑順到Ulloa不得不問問周圍的人那個中外野手的名字。他們告訴他那個野手叫Juan Soto，就是第一場比賽的年輕左投。他們說Soto也是個好打者。 “So I stayed and saw three at-bats,” Ulloa said recently in Spanish. “He got three hits. From then on, I never left him alone.” ＂所以我留下來看了三個打數，＂ Ulloa用西語說。＂他打了三支安打。從此以後我就盯死他了。＂ Soto isn’t a pitcher anymore. He is a 19-year-old hit machine the Nationals signed for a then-club record $1.5 million bonus in July 2015 in hopes that he would eventually assume a corner outfield spot in Washington. Two full seasons into his professional career — despite appearing in just 83 games and none above Class A Hagerstown — Soto appears to be on a path to the big leagues because his hitting ability, scouts and officials insist, is extraordinary. Soto已經不再投球，他是個19歲的打擊機器。 2015年七月，國民用當時破隊史記錄的1.5M簽約金簽下Soto，希望他有朝一日能扛下華盛頓角落外野手的責任。兩個完整職業球季過後，儘管只打過83場比賽而且最高沒超過1A Hagerstown， Soto顯露出他正靠著那經過球探與球團認證過的非凡打擊能力，走向一條通往大聯盟的康莊大道。 “He’s probably our best hitter in the minor leagues that we have right now,” Nationals Vice President of International Operations Johnny DiPuglia said. ＂他可能是我們小聯盟目前擁有的最佳打者。＂國民國際事務部副總裁Johnny DiPuglia說。 Soto’s primary obstacle since signing has been staying healthy. A fractured ankle and surgery on his right hand limited him to just 32 games between Hagerstown and the Gulf Coast League last season. He produced when he played — he batted .351 with a .919 on-base-plus-slugging percentage across the two levels — but played in just nine games after May 2. 自從簽約以來Soto的主要障礙就是保持健康。去年腳踝骨折與手部手術限制他只在Hagerstown及GCL出賽32場。當他能上場時很有貢獻，兩個層級合計打擊率.351，攻擊指數.919；不過五月二日後只打過九場比賽。 “Last year was a year filled with experiences,” Soto said recently in Spanish . “A lot of laughter, tears, a little bit of everything. I felt, at first, bad because I wanted to help my team and continue moving forward after my great start. But that was the way God wanted it to happen and that’s what I had to deal with.” ＂去年是充滿教訓的一年，＂ Soto用西語表示。＂許多歡笑、淚水，什麼都經歷過一些。最初我感覺很糟，因為我想幫助球隊，想延續開季火熱的手感。但上帝要事情這樣子發生，我只能想辦法面對。＂ Soto’s blend of skill and misfortune has produced a wide range of spots on baseball’s annual prospect rankings lists. Three major lists have been revealed over the past month, and each has a different take on Soto’s place among baseball’s top minor leaguers; Baseball America ranked him No. 56, MLB. com slotted him No. 29, and Baseball Prospectus had him at No. 22. 混合個人技巧與不幸遭遇的Soto聚集了大量棒球界年度新秀排行榜的目光。上個月三大榜單公佈，每一份榜單都把Soto排上不同名次： BA排56，官網排29，BP排22。 “If he plays a full year, I think there’s going to be surprising things coming out of that guy,” DiPuglia said. “He’s very mature. One of the most mature young Latin players I’ve ever been around as far as spending his money, what he does for a plan, how he approaches the game.... He loves the game. He has an advanced [strike] zone knowledge and he’s the kind of kid you’d want to marry your daughter. He’s just a great kid. And he can hit. He’s an outstanding hitter. So I think if he plays a full year, I think this guy really goes up the charts.” ＂如果他打完整季，我想在他身上會有些令人驚喜的事情發生。＂ DiPuglia說。＂他很成熟，他是我遇過最成熟的拉丁球員之一；包括他的金錢觀念、他怎麼實踐計畫，與他如何應對比賽。他喜愛比賽，擁有進階好球帶知識，也是那種你想找來當女婿的孩子。他就是這麼棒，然後又會打球。他是個傑出的打者，所以我想如果他打滿整季，這傢伙真能成為話題焦點。＂ The Nationals, of course, have their own evaluation system, and they hold Soto, their consensus No. 2 prospect behind Victor Robles, in high regard — so much that they have refused to make him available to the Miami Marlins as part of a trade package for catcher J.T. Realmuto. The Nationals envision Soto as a middle-of-the-order run producer from the left side, which the club may need after Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy become free agents next winter. Soto played mostly right field in 2017, but DiPuglia said he believes he will settle in left field in the majors. 國民，當然了，有他們自己的評估系統。他們也給予Soto－一般認為僅次於Victor Robles的第二名新秀－很高的評價，高到他們拒絕把Soto擺進包裹去交易馬林魚捕手J.T. Realmuto。國民將Soto視為能製造分數的中心打線左打者，這是明年冬天當Harper與Murphy進入自由市場後球隊所需要的。 2017年Soto幾乎都站右外野，但DiPuglia相信Soto會在大聯盟守左外野。 “Right now the area I want to improve most on is my defense,” Soto said. “ I’d like to improve my speed so I can be a better outfielder. I’d like to develop more as a fielder so I’m not just limited to right field and can play left field easily.” ＂當前我最想加強的是我的防守，＂ Soto說。＂我想增進速度，這樣我就能成為更好的外野手。我想培養作為野手的能力，可以輕鬆扛下左外野而不是被限制在只能守右外野。＂ As for a player comparison, DiPuglia pointed to a left-handed corner outfielder who starred for the New York Yankees during their dynasty in the 1990s. 做為模板，DiPuglia選擇90年代洋基王朝的左打外野角落明星。 “People think I’m crazy when I say this, but he reminds me a lot of Paul O’Neill,” DiPuglia said. “When I say Paul O’Neill, people, the hair on their arms doesn’t stand up, but Paul O’Neill had a hell of a career.... Something about him reminds me of Paul O’Neill. Maybe he’ll be better than him. But if he turns out to be Paul O’Neill, I’ll be happy.” ＂當我這麼說時大家都覺得我瘋了，但Soto一直令我想起Paul O'Neill。＂ DiPuglia說。＂當我提到Paul O'Neill，人們不至於肅然起敬。但Paul O'Neill有一個幹爆超讚的職業生涯； Soto身上的某些東西讓我想起Paul O'Neill，或許Soto有機會更好。不過如果Soto能成為Paul O'Neill，我會很高興。＂ The Nationals are years away from finding out. Maybe it doesn’t happen; most prospects never pan out as envisioned. But club officials steadfastly believe Soto will become an impactful big leaguer if he can stay on the field and develop. They believe Ulloa found a star that Sunday afternoon. 國民有幾年時間看看結果如何。也許什麼都不會發生，大多數新秀發展都不如預期。但球團堅信Soto能衝擊大聯盟，只要他能健康上場、持續養成。他們相信Ulloa在那個週日午後的確挖到一顆明星。 -- 抓狂的FANBOY有多可怕真的是遇過才知道 -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc), 來自: 1.160.86.75 ※ 文章網址: https://www.ptt.cc/bbs/Nationals/M.1518314556.A.91C.html