Soto arrives at camp with 'electric' fastball

Soto arrives at camp with 'electric' fastball

March 9th, 2023

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It took longer than anybody expected, including himself, but he finally got to Phillies camp.

And he wasted no time Thursday morning, throwing a simulated game at Carpenter Complex. It went well enough that he will pitch Sunday in a Grapefruit League game.

“The fastball was electric,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “The slider was really good.”

The Phillies have been waiting to get their eyes on Soto since the Phillies acquired him in a January trade with Detroit. But Soto, 28, had visa issues in the Dominican Republic, so while the Phillies opened camp on Feb. 16, he continued to drive an hour every day to throw at the Phillies’ academy.

“I spent a lot of time in the DR,” Soto said through an interpreter. “I was a little worried but I’m glad to be here now.”

The Phillies got Soto because they imagine a high-octane back end of the bullpen that includes , and . , and will get their share of high-leverage work, too.

Domínguez, Alvarado, Kimbrel and Soto each have closing experience. Thomson said he expects to use different pitchers in the ninth inning, depending on the day and situation, although somebody could establish himself as the full-time closer at some point.

“If they want to throw me in the fifth inning, I’m down for that,” Soto said.

So he’s OK not closing?

“I don’t have to have a role,” Soto said. “I can pitch in any inning. Whenever they need me, I’ll be ready for them.”

Soto, who throws left-handed, went 2-11 with a 3.28 ERA and 30 saves last season with the Tigers, making his second consecutive AL All-Star team. His four-seam fastball averaged 98.7 mph, which should fit right in with Alvarado’s sinker (99.6 mph), Domínguez’s sinker (98.2 mph) and Kimbrel’s fastball (95.8 mph).

• Harper hits camp: 'I've got a long way to go'

Of course, while velocity is great, strikes are better.

Soto struck out 60 batters in 60 1/3 innings last season, but he also walked 34. The Phillies think they can get him in the strike zone more, much like they did last season with Alvarado.

“I love to be in a place where I can get better,” Soto said. “Obviously, I’m not perfect. I can use some help with the strike zone. So, yeah, I’m down for any guidance that they can give me.”

Still no Painter updateThe Phillies again offered no update on Andrew Painter’s injured right elbow. He experienced tenderness in it after making his Grapefruit League debut last Wednesday in Fort Myers. He has not thrown since, taking him out of the running to make the Opening Day roster.

The Phillies were still waiting for a second opinion on Painter’s medical exams. Renown orthopedist Neal ElAttrache, who performed Bryce Harper’s Tommy John surgery in November, had been unavailable the past few days. They also might want the inflammation or irritation in Painter’s elbow to calm down before that happens.

Multiple sources have said this week that nobody has been told that Painter needs surgery, although they add that nothing has been officially ruled out until ElAttrache takes a look. One source said the feeling is that “time is what is needed” for him to recover.

Extra bases
homered twice and homered once in a 7-6 victory over the Orioles. Sosa is batting .500 (8-for-16) with four home runs this spring. “He’s not chasing and that’s big for him,” Thomson said. “That was a big objective over the winter.” Sosa played shortstop Thursday, but he is getting work in center field. He will play there again Tuesday.

went 2-for-2 with a triple. He is batting .474 (9-for-19) with one double, two triples and two home runs. Cave is competing for a bench job. He hits left-handed, but Thomson said that is not a detriment with and already in the outfield. “While Harp’s out, you want to try to get Schwarber off his feet, even with a right-handed pitcher,” Thomson said. “That could be a spot where he could fit. There’s a lot of tough and good problems to have to solve by the time we’re done.”