Juan Soto’s walks total surpasses Mickey Mantle’s historic milestone

Wednesday May 15, 2024

Juan Soto, the New York Yankees’ talented outfielder, etched his name in MLB history during Tuesday night’s 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins. By drawing a walk, the slugger surpassed Yankees icon Mickey Mantle’s record for the most walks by a player before their 26th birthday, amassing an impressive 669 bases on balls.

Juan Soto just passed Mickey Mantle for the most walks by a player before the age of 26 (AL/NL history) 👏 pic.twitter.com/mBswHn6yA6
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) May 15, 2024

This milestone showcases Juan Soto’s exceptional plate discipline and keen eye, which have become hallmarks of his young career. The MLB’s official stats Twitter account confirmed the latest achievement, cementing his place among the game’s elite in this unique statistical category. As Juan Soto continues to showcase his offensive prowess, he is poised to further solidify his status as one of baseball’s brightest young stars.

Here are the top five performers in this category:

Player	Team	Walks
Juan Soto	Yankees	669
Mickey Mantle	Yankees	668
Mel Ott	Giants	626
Eddie Yost	Angels	620
Bryce Harper	Phillies	585

Juan Soto flourishes with the Yankees

Juan Soto, the 25-year-old Yankees outfielder, is on a historic pace this season, which he began after being traded from the San Diego Padres during the offseason. His 26th birthday isn’t until October 25th, giving him ample time to further cement his place in the record books.

Yankees' Juan Soto is hitting his first homer at Yankee Stadium vs. the Marlins on April 8, 2024, and his cover athlete image on Topps Series 2.

As of today, Juan Soto’s impressive batting line stood at .314/.414/.541, complemented by nine home runs and 34 RBIs. If he can sustain his current 171 OPS+ throughout the remainder of the season, it would mark the second-highest such figure of his career over a full 162-game campaign, underlining his exceptional skill and consistency at the plate.

Mickey Mantle, a name synonymous with baseball greatness, is a revered figure in the sport’s history. His accomplishments speak for themselves: three MVP Awards and a first-ballot Hall of Fame induction in 1974. Throughout his storied career, Mantle posted an astounding 172 OPS+, belted 536 home runs, stole 153 bases, and amassed an estimated 110 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball-Reference’s calculations.

Yankee slugger Mickey Mantle awaits his turn in the batting cage at Yankee Stadium before the fifth World Series game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Oct. 12, 1964. — AP

Juan Soto’s exceptional command of the strike zone has been a hallmark of his game since his early days in the majors. Throughout his career, he has consistently drawn an average of 132 walks per 162 games, showcasing his unparalleled plate discipline. Moreover, Juan Soto has recorded at least 100 walks in each of his four complete seasons thus far. This year, he remains on track to achieve this feat once again, entering Tuesday’s game with an average of 0.67 walks per game, precisely the rate needed to reach 100 walks in a 150-game span.

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