Detroit Tigers: What to expect from Gregory Soto

LAKELAND, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Gregory Soto #65 of the Detroit Tigers poses for a photo during photo days on February 20, 2018 in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKELAND, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Gregory Soto #65 of the Detroit Tigers poses for a photo during photo days on February 20, 2018 in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Gregory Soto will make his major league debut in tonight’s second leg of a doubleheader in Minnesota.

The 24-year-old Gregory Soto is finally getting his break as the Detroit Tigers called him all the way from Double-A Erie to the major leagues. Soto is slated to make his first career big league start later tonight as the Tigers take on the Twins in the second leg of a doubleheader.

Soto was named Detroit Tigers Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2017 but has taken a while to break into the big leagues as he has been in the Tigers organization since 2013. In 2017, he posted a stellar 12-2 record in 23 starts with a 2.25 ERA between playing for both the West Michigan Whitecaps and Lakeland Tigers.

After an outstanding 2017, Soto found himself stuck in Lakeland for all of 2018 starting 23 games and finishing with an 8-8 record and 4.45 ERA. So far in 2019, Soto has a 3.12 ERA and 0-1 record in four starts between Lakeland and Erie.

Now, thanks to the doubleheader and an ailing Tigers starting rotation, Soto gets his chance to show what he’s got on the big stage. A lefty, Soto will go against a Twins lineup that has a fairly even mix of righty and lefty batters. Luckily, Soto has done well against both so far this year allowing righty hitters a .238 BA and lefties .190.

A jump so sudden such as this one, going from Single-A to the majors in the matter of less than a month, shows just how evolving this Detroit roster is. Injuries certainly played a part in that, but also it is somewhat encouraging to know the team isn’t afraid to experiment with younger players on the major league roster.

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Soto has served plenty of time in the Detroit Tigers system and has gained the faith of the organization enough to get his chance to start in the majors. The team’s starting pitching as a whole has lost some of the shine from its impressive start to the season, so hopefully, Soto can come in and contribute right away. Either way, it’s an experiment where there is not much to lose in a rebuilding season.