Dorian Soto Will Be Red Sox's Fastest Riser in 2026

[Nick John]

Every year, MLB teams look toward the international free agent market in the hopes of finding young prospects with high ceilings to sign and develop. The Boston Red Sox are just like every other team, and in their pursuit of potential high-end talent, have signed various prospects who are currently generating lots of prospect hype. In 2023, they signed Yoeilin Cespedes and Franklin Arias, while 2024 brought Justin Gonzales into the system.

This year's IFA market continued the team's trend of signing high-potential players, as the Red Sox gave their highest signing bonus to shortstop Dorian Soto. The 17-year-old (who won’t turn 18 until mid-February) signed with the Red Sox on January 15, agreeing to a $1.4 million signing bonus. Soto would go on to play for the Red Sox Dominican Summer League team, exciting many around the baseball world. But why?

Soto currently is listed at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds and still has an extremely projectable frame. During the 2025 season, he mostly played shortstop, but the young infielder also saw time at third base and a little at second base, as it is likely he will be moved off of shortstop as he continues to grow. While nothing is certain about his future defensive home, it isn’t often that large players remain at shortstop. With solid actions and soft hands, he handles the position well despite committing seven errors in just 117 defensive chances.

Offensively, Soto showed why the Red Sox sought him out as their top signing of the 2025 class. With his size, he's already showed raw power that is advanced for his age despite hitting only two home runs during the season. He is still filling out, and he has the frame to add power to his game once he physically matures. It is believed that he is bigger than currently listed, though that won’t be confirmed until next season begins.

For now, where Soto really stands out is with his hit tool. A switch-hitter, the teenager already shows solid bat speed and has strong barrel control for a player of his age. He appears to have a strong understanding of the strike zone as shown by his 16 walks in just 47 games. Soto’s swing can sometimes be long, but it has already resulted in a max exit velocity of 112 mph.

Soto did suffer a wrist injury that limited his ability to switch-hit this year, and because of that. he’s more advanced from the left side of the plate (though his numbers as a right-handed batter were still good). Soto can be aggressive towards pitches in the strike zone but thanks to his strong contact skills, he managed to hold his strikeout rate to 15.1%.

In 2025, Soto wound up hitting .307/.362/.428 with 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 18 RBIs across 47 games played. From the left side, he slashed .311/.372/.432; from the right side, he hit .294/.324/.412. Scouts believe that, despite being more advanced as a left-handed hitter, Soto exhibits good baseline traits from both sides and the baseball IQ to improve his swing.

Soto will play stateside in 2026 and with his well-reviewed work ethic, it is very likely he could follow in Gonzales’ footsteps of having a short stint in the Florida Complex League before seeing Low-A Salem in 2026. At this moment in time, Soto is ranked as Talk Sox’s 10th-best prospect, but that number should change in 2026. The young infielder could very well be a special player that Red Sox fans will enjoy watching as he grows and moves through the system the next few seasons.  

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[mvp 78]

The FCL is a very weak league. If he rakes there, it doesn't tell us much about his path moving forward. I wouldn't strap a rocket to him yet. We've seen lots of guys get moved too quickly and then wind up ranked in the 20's a year or two later. 

[Hugh2]

Maybe, but Enddy Azocar might be that guy

[Nick John]

19 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Maybe, but Enddy Azocar might be that guy

Azocar is really intriguing. Tore up FCL before being one of the youngest in Low-A. His metrics all point to being a breakout candidate and he's someone I'm keeping an eye on next season alongside Soto, Wehunt and Aita.

[Sofia3672]

Really like this breakdown. Soto looks like a legit high-upside bat, especially for his age. If the hit tool keeps trending like this, he could rise fast once he gets stateside.

[moonslav59]

Soto and Azocar both show great potential. It's sort of like a shot in the dark on this thing. I kinda like Delzine & Cason, too.

My dark horse not so young would be Johanfran Garcia.

[mvp 78]

Barrett Morgan and Leighton Finley move up 20+ spots by the end of May. 

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Barrett Morgan and Leighton Finley move up 20+ spots by the end of May. 

Good call:

51. Morgan

59. Finley

I see soxprospects.com added D reyes to #60 by attrition, due to the losses of Fajardo & Aita in the Contreras trade.

I'm going to project these moves:

Falls:

2. Arias falls to #6-10

9. Sandlin falls to around #20.

13> 25 Romero

14>30 Uberstine

15>26 Drohan

18>40 Bleis

19>39 Cespedes & 22>50 Castro

________________________

Risers:

5>3 Valera

8>5 Soto

12>8 Godbout

16>10 Holobetz

20>11 Azocar

23>15 Delzine

24>19 Ramos

25>20 Rivas

26>12 Jo Garcia

31>22 A Guzman

32>23 L Heyman

51> 33 Morgan

57>31 Patton

 

 

[Behindenemylines]

Soto already past Cespedes in the prospect rankings. He is already a big kid at his age so probably won't stay at SS. He is a switch hitter with bat to ball skills. Years away from helping the Sox, but when is the last time the Sox minor league system produce a switch hitter? Maybe in a couple years the excitement will build.

[moonslav59]

29 minutes ago, Behindenemylines said:

Soto already past Cespedes in the prospect rankings. He is already a big kid at his age so probably won't stay at SS. He is a switch hitter with bat to ball skills. Years away from helping the Sox, but when is the last time the Sox minor league system produce a switch hitter? Maybe in a couple years the excitement will build.

I was a big Cespedes fan, but he has fallen a lot, and with reason.

I actually think he, Bleis and Castro are over-rated, now.

[Behindenemylines]

On 12/26/2025 at 2:18 PM, moonslav59 said:

I was a big Cespedes fan, but he has fallen a lot, and with reason.

I actually think he, Bleis and Castro are over-rated, now.

I agree, Bless was suppose to be the next big thing. Just another example of hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports.

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, Behindenemylines said:

I agree, Bless was suppose to be the next big thing. Just another example of hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports.

What's the chance one from Bleis, Cespedes or Castro turn things around.

My guess is the chanc etwo do is near zero.

[mvp 78]

On 1/1/2026 at 11:40 PM, moonslav59 said:

What's the chance one from Bleis, Cespedes or Castro turn things around.

My guess is the chanc etwo do is near zero.

I've written all of them off.