Puerto Rican Prospect Charlee Soto Prepares for Major League Baseball’s Rookie Draft in Seattle

Before traveling to Seattle today, Puerto Rican prospect Charlee Soto carefully packed the outfit she will wear tomorrow, Sunday, on the first day of the Major League Baseball rookie draft.

The 17-year-old right-hander will be present on the stage where the draft will take place at T-Mobile Park, home of the Mariners, after receiving an invitation from Major League Baseball (MLB).

MLB invites those prospects with a high chance of being claimed in the first round. Charlee is projected to be selected late in the opening round or early in the second.

Tomorrow the first two rounds will take place; on Monday they will be from the third to the tenth; and on Tuesday from the eleventh to the twentieth.

And Charlee came up with a very creative idea regarding the making of her outfit with a single objective: to represent Puerto Rico and honor the municipalities that saw her parents Carlos Soto and Wanda Rivera grow up.

“I am wearing a jacket and inside it the flags of Juana Díaz and Ponce are sewn. I have Puerto Rican blood and I want to represent Puerto Rico. My parents are more excited than me,” he shared with El Nuevo Día, laughing.

“I feel very proud of what my parents did for me to get to this moment,” he continued in Spanish.

Charlee’s father hails from Juana Díaz and her mother from Ponce. His father was a pitcher in Double A Baseball.

@UCF_Baseball Commit (‘23,FL) RHP Charlee Soto @soto_charlee •last outing of the spring, FB 96-97 has been up to 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣????, SL T89 looking like ????’s. Raising his #MLBdraft stock. @RebornAcademy @PSBaseballinc pic.twitter.com/lsJNu0oD2g

— Jaidon Jimenez (@jaidonjimenez25) April 28, 2023

Charlee was born in Philadelphia and when she was one year old her family moved to Kissimmee, Florida. It was there that he began playing baseball with his brother Carlos, Jr., who is now 23 years old and has had Double-A tournament experience with San Sebastián.

Charlee started playing at age 3. He was a shortstop and a pitcher, according to what he said.

“I only pitched at the state championships,” he recalled.

It was at the age of 15 that he made the full transition to pitching.

“He had a strong arm. It was an easy decision.”

Charlee is one of the strongest arms in the high school nation. He studied at Reborn Christian Academy. His fastball ranges from 96 to 98 miles. He also has a good physique. He is 6′5″ and weighs 210 pounds. He is also one of the youngest who will enter the draft at 17 years old.

Scout reports highlight the speed of his fastball and the ERA of his slider at 86-88 mph.

Charlee last appeared before the organizations’ listeners in mid-June. She said that at her penultimate performance, more than 70 talent evaluators were present at the park.

He said he has received interest from all 30 Major League Baseball organizations and added that he had a workout at the Kansas City Royals stadium.

“I would not say that there is a particular interest from one team. Everyone has reached out,” she commented.

The MLB portal places Charlee in the 28th position among the best prospects of the Class of 2023. That turn belongs to the Houston Astros.

Sporting News projects that the pitcher will be selected in the 29th pick by Seattle; Fox Sports at 30 also for Seattle and ESPN at pick 39 for Oakland. They are shifts with an approximate value between $3 and $2.5 million.

“Throw gas and get outs. That’s just me” – @soto_charlee pic.twitter.com/RBHoFQWcWu

— Perfect Game USA (@PerfectGameUSA) April 26, 2023

Charlee, however, said he isn’t keeping an eye on the projections.

“I don’t look at that. I will just go to the team that gives me the opportunity,” she said.

Charlee has a commitment to the University of Central Florida (UCF) as a plan B. But his expectation is to sign as a first-round pick.

“Going out in the first round is the dream I’ve had since I started playing at 3 years old. I want to live that moment of hearing my name in the draw. I’ve worked hard for it.”

The MLB draft is part of the All-Star Game festivities. There, Charlee will walk among the greatest figures in the Majors such as Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Ronald Acuña, Gerrit Cole and Clayton Kershaw, among others.

“It is exciting. Not many players are invited (to the draft). This happens once in a lifetime.”

And there he could also have the opportunity to share with the Naguabeño reliever of the Cincinnati Reds, Alexis Díaz. And maybe it’s a good time to let him know how much he admires his brother Edwin “Sugar” Díaz, closer for the New York Mets recovering from a knee injury.

“Even though he’s injured right now, Sugar is a player I’m always watching. He is one of the best relievers in the game and I always see him ready to throw. I like that about him,” he noted.

Other Puerto Ricans in the draw

In this year’s draw, the selection of other Puerto Ricans is expected in the first 10 rounds.

Infielders Sabin Ceballos and Edrick Félix, and receiver Jandaniel González look like they have a good chance of being claimed between the third and sixth rounds. Ceballos is even a candidate for the first day of the draft, after a brilliant showing with the University of Oregon in the NCAA.

Felix, for his part, was one of the best hitters in the nation with Florida Gulf Coast.

González, from Yabuco, for his part, is a catcher with great strength at bat, but he suffered a knee injury that prevented him from playing for much of this year.

Other names are shortstops Bryan González and Yahil Meléndez, and pitcher Jarrette Bonet.

2023-07-08 03:55:04
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