San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto ended 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in Monday's 7-4 extra-inning defeat to the San Francisco Giants. The 24-year-old flexed his power in this one, lofting both long balls to the opposite field. It was the former HR Derby Champion's first multi-homer game since June 4 of last season. Overall, Soto hasn't raked for the elite average he once flourished. However, the on-base machine is slashing an effective .256/.411/.484 with 13 round-trippers, 36 RBI, and six stolen bases in 2023. Fantasy managers will also be elated with Soto's 99th-percentile hard-hit rate near 59%.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto was 5-for-5 at the plate with four RBI, propelling the Padres to a 10-3 victory over the Mariners Wednesday. Soto hammered an RBI double to center field in the seventh inning to record his last hit of the evening. The 24-year-old sensation has been a force to be reckoned with in fantasy baseball, as he has an exceptional batting average of .321 since May 1, alongside his five home runs, 20 RBI, and five stolen bases in 33 games.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (back) has returned to the starting lineup on Tuesday to face right-hander Sandy Alcantara and the Miami Marlins. Soto is starting in left field and batting third in the lineup. Soto was limited to close out the weekend series against the New York Yankees in the Bronx because of back tightness, but it obviously wasn't a very serious injury and he is back in the lineup after Monday's off day. Fantasy managers will want to get the 24-year-old left-handed slugger back in their starting lineups, as he's really picked it up at the plate in the month of May. In 24 games (104 plate appearances), he's hitting .333 (27-for-81) with 11 doubles, five home runs, 13 RBI and four stolen bases.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (back) is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Miami Marlins. The 24-year-old was originally in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees but was a late scratch after his back tightened up on him in the batting cage during warmups. He lobbied to stay in the lineup, according to beat writer AJ Cassavell, but he was taken out as a precaution. The Padres have Monday off so the extra day of rest should do Soto some good before the team kicks off their series with the Marlins.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (back) has been scratched from Sunday's lineup due to back tightness. Soto was originally in the lineup against the Yankees and was scratched late so something must have flared up during pregame warmups. The Padres should make a formal announcement following the game. Jose Azocar is starting in left field in his place.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto went 1-for-4 with a single, a run scored, and a strikeout in a 7-0 shutout win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. Soto knocked a single and came around to score off a Matt Carpenter home run in the bottom of the third inning. It was the only time he reached in the ball game. It's not like Soto has been terrible but due to his ever-high expectations, his numbers leave a lot to be desired so far this year. He's slashing .248/.398/.473 with eight home runs, 21 RBI, and four stolen bases over 165 at-bats on the season.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto contributed offensively at the plate and on the base path in Wednesday's extra-inning clash between the Padres and the Twins. Despite the Padres losing 4-3, Soto smacked his sixth home run. He also swiped two bags. After a slow start to the season, Soto, a highly regarded player in fantasy baseball, has started to find his rhythm. He boasts a slashing line of .246/.406/.454 in 165 at-bats.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto went 2-for-4 with a double, a homer, and two RBI in a 5-2 loss to the New York Mets on Wednesday. Soto took New York starter Tylor Megill deep for a two-run shot in the first inning. He absolutely destroyed the baseball on the homer as the ball traveled 453 feet and had an exit velocity of 109.2 MPH. Soto is off to a decent start, hitting just .217 but with three doubles, three homers, eight runs, and seven RBI across 46 at-bats.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto isn't focused on a new contract, according to general manager A.J. Preller. Instead, the multi-time All-Star prefers keeping his attention on the season. "With Juan, it's been more about the baseball side of things," Preller stated when asked about a potential Soto extension. San Diego has made some big moves within the last year, including reaching agreements with several prominent players. Most recently, the club reportedly came to a seven-year, $80 million extension with infielder Jake Cronenworth. Soto's production dipped in 2022 after suiting up for the Nationals before his trade to San Diego. However, he's expected to finish the year as a top fantasy option, regardless of how negotiations play out with the Padres.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (oblique) will start in left field on Thursday in the team's Opening Day matchup against the Colorado Rockies and right-hander German Marquez, according to manager Bob Melvin. Soto played in only five Cactus League games and also for Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic due to calf and oblique injuries that were considered mild. Fantasy managers will want to have the 24-year-old left-handed hitter in their starting lineups to kick of the 2023 regular season. He was a bit of a disappointment in 2022 with both the Padres and Washington Nationals, but a bounce-back season is likely in the cards.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (oblique) looked good during Monday's minor league spring training contest. The 24-year-old mentioned afterwards that he's excited to be healthy enough to play on Opening Day. It sounds like Soto is going to be ready despite him dealing with a mild left oblique strain that he suffered earlier in camp. He has been slowly working his way back into game shape. Soto walked three times and doubled once during Monday's contest. Fantasy managers should expect Soto to play on Opening Day, barring any setbacks.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (oblique) is taking dry swings at camp on Friday, which is seen as a big development in terms of his possible progression toward being ready for Opening Day next Thursday. It's good news for the Padres outfield as well after Adam Engel suffered a hamstring injury in a spring game on Thursday. The 24-year-old Soto strained his left oblique in a minor-league game last weekend and has been shut down since. If he can avoid setbacks from here on out, he has a chance to be in SD's Opening Day lineup against the Colorado Rockies on March 30. Even though the talented left-handed slugger didn't look that great in half a season in 2022 for the Padres, he's fully expected to bounce back in 2023.

San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin said that the results of outfielder Juan Soto's (oblique) MRI suggest that his oblique strain is "minimal". The 24-year-old suffered a strained left oblique while playing in a minor-league game on Sunday. The team expects him to resume swinging in the coming days and is optimistic that he could get more Cactus League at-bats. This is encouraging news for fantasy managers, as Soto remains one of fantasy's top hitter options and an early overall pick.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (oblique) is getting an MRI exam on Tuesday, according to manager Bob Melvin. "We're thinking it's fairly mild, which hopefully is the case." Soto suffered a strained left oblique while playing in a minor-league game on Sunday, but the team is still hoping that he'll be ready to go on Opening Day on March 30. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger also dealt with a minor calf injury in camp this year. If Soto has to begin the 2023 regular season on the injured list, it likely wouldn't be for long. He remains an early round target for fantasy managers heading into his first full season with the Padres as one of the best all-around hitters in baseball.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (oblique) was removed from Sunday's minor-league "B" game with a "mild left oblique strain." He left after feeling "a little sore" in his left side while striking out in his only at-bat. The 24-year-old was removed for precautionary reasons and is considered "day-to-day." An oblique injury this close to Opening Day can be concerning, and the Padres will be cautious with their star outfielder. He went 6-for-15 with three doubles, two homers, and three walks across four games in the World Baseball Classic. Soto also dealt with a calf strain in late February and early March. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the situation, and we will keep you posted as more information comes in. Matt Carpenter and Adam Engel would see an uptick in at-bats if Soto were to miss any games. Stay tuned.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto gave Team Dominican Republic the spark it needed in Monday's 6-1 World Baseball Classic win over Team Nicaragua. Batting leadoff, Soto went 2-for-4 with a single, a solo home run, a walk, and a strikeout. The 24-year-old has gotten off to an encouraging start this spring after having a disappointing 2022 season, batting .727 in 11 Cactus League at-bats before joining Team Dominican Republic for the WBC. While he likely won't hit leadoff for the Padres, Soto should once again be a top fantasy pick and will hopefully experience some positive regression.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (calf) is scheduled to appear in a B game on Thursday, according to manager Bob Melvin. If all goes well, Soto could join Team Dominican Republic for the 2023 World Baseball Classic ahead of their first game against Team Venezuela on Saturday. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger is 100 percent healthy after dealing with left calf tightness last week in camp. Barring setbacks at the WBC, Soto should be ready to rock for Opening Day later this month. More was expected of him at the plate in 2022, but he looked more like his normal self in the postseason and should be able to bounce back in his first full season in San Diego.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (calf) ran on Tuesday morning to test his injured calf and said that he is 100 percent healthy. "They don't want to take any risk," Soto said. If things continue to go well, the expectation is that Soto will join Team Dominican Republic in Florida by Friday for the World Baseball Classic. The Dominican's first game in the tournament is this Saturday. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger has been slowed by left calf tightness in spring training in the last week, but it's a very minor injury. Barring a setback during the WBC, Soto should be fully healthy for Opening Day and will be a fine bounce-back candidate in fantasy leagues in the late first round of drafts.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (calf) is expected to be fine and able to play in this year's World Baseball Classic for Team Dominican Republic. Soto has dealt with some minor left calf tightness recently in spring training, but he has returned to the Cactus League lineup and is expected to report for the WBC this Friday. In his four spring games, the 24-year-old has gone 8-for-11 with a home run and seven RBI, so he's off to a great start. Fantasy managers shouldn't be concerned about his injury and should be looking forward to what should be a bounce-back campaign in his first full season with the Friars. Soto is a borderline first-round pick in fantasy drafts.

Even after the San Diego Padres signed third baseman Manny Machado to a new 11-year, $350 million deal, they remain open to contract-extension discussions with star outfielder Juan Soto. Owner Peter Seidler has been shocking the world with his spending in San Diego, and it may not stop. The Padres are expected to reach out soon to Soto, who won't be a free agent until after the 2024 season. Soto's agent, Scott Boras, isn't known for passing up chances to cash in on free agency, especially young ones like Soto. The 24-year-old already rebuffed a record $440 million offer from his previous team, the Washington Nationals. Despite a disappointing second half in SD after being acquired by the Padres, Soto is ready to bounce back in his first full season with the Friars in 2023. He should be considered a top-15 fantasy asset.