Geovany Soto

Professional career

Geovany Soto was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 11th round of the 2001 MLB draft, 318th overall. He first appeared in the majors on September 23, 2005, against the Houston Astros. The Cubs recalled him on July 12, 2007, but he managed just one hit in seven at-bats. When the Cubs expanded their roster that September, Soto returned to the big club.

His call-up was driven by a dominant minor league season with the Iowa Cubs, where he batted .353 with 26 home runs and 109 RBIs, earning Pacific Coast League MVP honors. After rejoining the Cubs in September, he hit .389. Soto started for Chicago in the 2007 playoffs against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In Game 2, he launched a home run into the left-field bleachers at Chase Field, giving the Cubs a 2-0 lead.

Though the Cubs lost that game, Soto’s performance locked him in as the team’s starting catcher for 2008, as Jason Kendall left for Milwaukee as a free agent.

Soto’s finest offensive showing arguably came on April 30, 2008, in a blowout win over the Brewers. He crushed two three-run homers, driving in six of the Cubs’ 19 runs. This came just days after a two-game series against the Nationals where he struck out eight times in a row. Soto was named National League Rookie of the Month for April 2008, hitting .341 with five home runs, eight doubles, and 20 RBIs, posting a 1.059 OPS.

On May 19, 2008, he hit his first career inside-the-park home run, again against the Astros. Soto led early All-Star voting for National League catchers and was selected as the starting catcher for the NL. He became the first rookie catcher ever to start an All-Star Game for the National League. He was also the first Cubs rookie All-Star to appear in the game with at least 14 home runs since Rafael Palmeiro in 1987; Soto surpassed that mark when he hit his 15th homer on July 6, 2008. On August 26, 2008, he went 3-for-5 with seven RBIs against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

As a rookie catcher, Soto called a no-hitter for pitcher Carlos Zambrano on September 14, 2008, against the Houston Astros. The game was played at Miller Park in Milwaukee because Hurricane Ike was moving through Houston. It was the first no-hitter in major league history thrown at a neutral site.