2024 Chachi #25 Gregory Soto

#30 / Gregory Soto / Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  234
Opening Day Age:  29

Born:  February 11, 1995, Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic
Acquired:  Traded by the Detroit Tigers with Kody Clemens to the Phillies for Nick Maton, Donny Sands and Matt Vierling, January 7, 2023

Major League Teams:  Detroit Tigers 2019-22; Philadelphia Phillies 2023-24; Baltimore Orioles 2024

Postseason Appearances:  Philadelphia Phillies 2023; Baltimore Orioles 2024

2024 Topps Heritage #144

After Gregory Soto was traded to the Orioles on July 30th for Moises Chace and Seth Johnson, it came to light the reliever had not bee happy with his role in the Phillies bullpen as a non-closer.  He had pitched relatively well for the club in 2023, but his 4.62 ERA in 60 1/3 innings likely didn't lend itself to a higher leverage role.  Soto was 2-4 for the Phillies in 2024 with a 4.08 ERA in 35 1/3 innings pitched when he was dealt to Baltimore.  He struggled with the Orioles and saw his ERA go up to 5.09 in his 23 games back in the American League.  Soto and Seranthony Dominguez will likely both be back in the Orioles bullpen in 2025.

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  2018 Bowman Draft #BD-53
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (3):  2019, 2022-2023
Favorite 2024 Card:  2024 Topps Heritage #144
Total Cards in My Phillies Collection:  7 as of 12/21/24, 2 added in 2024

Complete Chachi Checklist

2023 Chachi New Additions #6

2023 Chachi #23

2024 Chachi #25

2024 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2024 Season Summary Index / 2024 Chachi Set Checklist

2024 Chachi #24 Luis F. Ortiz / 2024 Chachi #26 Matt Strahm

Game 107 - Phils Lose Heartbreaker on Trade Deadline Day

2022 Topps Update #US146

2024 Choice Jersey Shore BlueClaws #4

2024 Topps Heritage #144

2022 Choice South Atlantic League Top Prospects

2023 Choice Delmarva Shorebirds #24

Yankees 7, Phillies 6 (12 Innings)
Game 107 - Tuesday Night, July 30th in Philadelphia
Record - 65-42, 1st Place, 7 1/2 games ahead of the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  In one of the more painful losses of the season, the Phillies couldn't keep rallying past the Yankees, losing 7-6 in 12 innings.

What It Means:  It's really not going well.

What Happened:  Aaron Nola pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing a pair of runs on seven hits, and departed with the Phillies holding a 4-2 lead.  Matt Strahm allowed a three-run home run to Jazz Chisolm in the top of the seventh, giving the Yankees the lead.  In the ninth, the Phillies battled back to tie the game when pinch-runner Johan Rojas scored on a wild pitch from Yankees' closer Clay Holmes.  J.T. Realmuto and Bryson Stott had both singled to start the mini-rally.  The Phillies loaded the bases in the 10th, but did not score.  The Yankees took the lead in the top of the 11th, but the Phillies again rallied to tie the game when Austin Hays singled home ghost runner Stott in the bottom of the 11th.  The Yankees pulled ahead for the final time in the top of the 12th against reliever Orion Kerkering, and the Phillies went down quietly in the bottom of the 12th.

Featured Cards/Transactions:  Prior to this debacle, Dave Dombrowski pulled off two more deals before the 6pm trade deadline.

Tanner Banks (lhp) was acquired from the Chicago White Sox for prospect William Bergolla (inf).  Banks is nearly unhittable when facing left-handed batters, and in 41 games and 48 innings with the White Sox this season, he had been 2-2 with a 4.13 ERA and a pair of saves.  Bergolla was batting .295 with 18 stolen bases for high-A Jersey Shore.

Gregory Soto (lhp) was dealt to the Baltimore Orioles for pitching prospects Seth Johnson (rhp) and Moises Chace (rhp).  The Phillies decided to move on from Soto, picking up two promising arms in the process.  In 1 1/2 seasons and 112 games with the Phillies, Soto was 5-8 with a 4.42 ERA and five saves.

2024 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2024 Season Summary Index / 2024 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 32 - Phils Hold Off Angels to Gain Series Win

2024 Topps Heritage #144

Phillies 2, Angels 1
Game 32 - Wednesday Afternoon, May 1st in Anaheim
Record - 21-11, 2nd Place, 1/2 game behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Zack Wheeler and four relievers held the Angels to just one run and a two-run single from Kyle Schwarber in the second was all the Phillies needed in this 2-1 win.

What It Means:  The Phillies won the series, and they've won 13 of their last 16 games.  The Giants are in town next for a four-game series beginning Friday night.

What Happened:  Wheeler didn't have his best stuff, but he got the win after allowing just a solo home run to Ehire Adrianza in the second inning.  He allowed five hits overall while striking out six.  Gregory Soto walked a tightrope in the ninth, allowing a pair of runners to reach before getting the final out and earning his second save.

Featured Card:  I don't have many opportunities to feature cards of the relievers in these posts, so a lack of much action gives me an excuse to feature Soto's Topps Heritage card.  He's struggled at times this season, but he's one of three reliable closers in manager Rob Thomson's arsenal, along with Jose Alvarado and Jeff Hoffman.

2024 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2024 Season Summary Index / 2024 Chachi Set Checklist

2023 Chachi #23 Gregory Soto

#30

Gregory Soto
Relief Pitcher

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'1"  Weight:  234
Opening Day Age:  28

Born:  February 11, 1995, Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic
Acquired:  Traded by the Detroit Tigers with Kody Clemens to the Phillies for Nick Maton, Donny Sands and Matt Vierling, January 7, 2023

Contract Status:  Arbitration eligible 2024
Major League Teams:  Detroit Tigers 2019-2022; Philadelphia Phillies 2023

Gregory Soto joined the Phillies in January, but it cost the Phillies two players who were important parts of the 2022 National League Champions' clubhouse.  The deal could ultimate work out for both clubs, but all three key players in the swap have struggled somewhat so far in 2023.  Vierling is batting .241 as the Tigers' regular right fielder, while Maton is hitting just .165 as their most used third baseman.  Soto has appeared in 25 games for the Phillies and has been plagued by four awful outings.  In 20 of his 25 relief appearances, he's not been charged with any runs.

Soto was an All-Star with the Tigers in 2021 and 2022, saving 18 and 30 games respectively in each of those seasons.  He's got one save so far with the Phillies, but most opportunities will likely go to Craig Kimbrel, Seranthony Dominguez or Jose Alvarado (when healthy).

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  2018 Bowman Draft #BD-53
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (3):  2019, 2022-2023
Newest Card Added to My Phillies Collection:  2023 Topps #86
Total Cards in My Phillies Collection:  1 as of 5/29/23.

Complete Chachi Checklist

2023 Chachi New Additions #6

2023 Chachi #23

2023 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2023 Season Summary Index / 2023 Chachi Set Checklist

2023 Chachi #22 Connor Brogdon / 2023 Chachi #24 Craig Kimbrel

Game 50 - Phils Can't Hold Off Braves in Loss

2023 Topps #86

Braves 8, Phillies 5
Game 50 - Thursday Night, May 25th in Atlanta
Record - 23-27, 4th Place, 8 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies came back late to tie this game, but Gregory Soto gave up three runs in the eighth inning as the Braves prevailed, 8-5.

What It Means:  This was a tough one, as the bullpen had been one of the more reliable aspects of the Phillies' play of late.

What Happened:  Aaron Nola battled through six innings, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out seven.  Trailing 2-0, the Phillies scored three times in the second, with Alec Bohm hitting a two-run home run and Bryson Stott later doubling home Brandon Marsh.  The Braves quickly tied up the score when Marcell Ozuna hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second, and they'd take the lead in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Michael Harris II.  The Phillies again tied it 4-4 in the top of the fifth on a Bryce Harper solo home run, but then Austin Riley homered in the bottom of the inning to put the Braves on top again.  

The Phillies should have taken the lead in the seventh.  Kyle Schwarber doubled with Harper scoring, but then Nick Castellanos was ruled out at home as his leg glided over the plate, never touching it.  Soto was in trouble quickly in the eighth, and would depart having allowed three runs on four hits and a  walk, and with the Braves now ahead for good, 8-5.

Featured Card:  Soto, an All-Star with the Tigers the past two seasons, hasn't been bad in the majority of his appearances this season.  He's appeared in 25 games, only allowing runs in six of those appearances.  He's had four appearances, including this game against the Braves, where he's allowed three or more runs.  Soto has entered games with 12 inherited runners, allowing only two runners to score.  Soto would be a good candidate to appear with the Phillies in the 2023 Topps Update set.

2023 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2023 Season Summary Index / 2023 Chachi Set Checklist

Getting Closer to Games - New Numbers are Here!

2023 Topps #283

2023 Topps #209

2023 Topps #176

2023 Topps #86

2023 Topps #145

It looks as if I skipped the "New Numbers" post last year, which I'll blame on the owners' lock-out that delayed the start of spring training.  One of the many milestones I look forward to each offseason is the assignment of new uniform numbers on the Phillies' website.  This is a hit or miss process as some years the numbers have arrived in spurts, very late or not at all.  I checked the roster page on Friday morning, noticing "--" listed as the uniform number for every non-roster invitee except Francisco Morales, and for most of the non-high profile new additions to the 40-man roster.  By Friday afternoon, uniform numbers had miraculously appeared and we're now that much closer to baseball returning.

Here's a look at the new players and their uniform numbers, who wore the number previously, and a few uniform number switches.

40-Man Roster

• #2 Josh Harrison (inf) - Worn by Jean Segura since 2019.  Harrison had worn #7 when he was in summer camp with the Phillies in 2020.
• #7 Trea Turner (ss) -  Johan Camargo wore #7 in 2022, and Turner will wear it through at least the 2033 season.
• #23 Kody Clemens (inf) - Corey Knebel last year.
• #25 Matt Strahm (lhp) - Strahm took the number from Darick Hall, who switched to #24.
• #30 Gregory Sosa (lhp) - David Robertson in 2022.
• #31 Craig Kimbrel (rhp) - Last worn by Jeurys Familia.
• #37 Andrew Vasquez (lhp) - This had been Odubel Herrera's number since 2015.
• #43 Yunior Marte (rhp) - Worn by Noah Syndergaard in 2022.
• #44 Jake Cave (of) - Kyle Gibson's former number.
• #47 Erich Uelman (rhp) - Worn very briefly last season by Chris Devenski.
• #56 Luis Ortiz (rhp) - This had been Zach Efllin's number since 2016.
• #99 Taijuan Walker (rhp) - Last worn by So Taguchi in 2008.  Prior to that, the only other #99 in franchise history were Turk Wendell and Mitch Williams.

Notable Non-Roster Invitees - 60 and Under

• #29 John Hicks (c) - Worn in 2022 by Nick Maton.
• #39 Vimael Machin (inf) - Worn briefly by back-up catcher Donny Sands.
• #41 Vito Friscia (c) - Belonged to Yairo Munoz last year.
• #50 Jon Duplantier (rhp) - Worn by Austin Wynns in spring training last year, and last worn in season by closer Hector Neris.
• #51 Ben Bowden (lhp) - Hans Crouse, still in the organization, wore this number for one game in 2021.
• #60 Louis Head (rhp) - Ryan Sherriff wore this number in spring training last year, Ramon Rosso wore it in 2021.

Uniform Number Switches

• #24 Darick Hall (inf) - Hall surrendered #25 to Strahm, and takes the number last worn by Roman Quinn.
• #73 Will Toffey (inf) - Toffey was active for one game in 2022 and wore #33, which now belongs to Edmundo Sosa.

Still Unofficially Retired

#6 Ryan Howard, #11 Jimmy Rollins, #26 Chase Utley, #35 Cole Hamels

Still Available - 60 and Under

#19, #48, #52, #54

#19 was worn by Matt Vierling in 2022, #48 was Vinny Nittoli, #52 was Brad Hand and #54 was Sam Coonrod.  I always suspect they're saving these for an acquisition that hasn't been  made official yet.  Coonrod was the latest departure, as he was claimed by the Mets off waivers on February 6th.

Memory Lane

2012 New Numbers

2013 New Numbers
2014 New Numbers - Part One and Part Two
2015 New Numbers
2016 New Numbers - Part One and Part Two
2017 New Numbers
2018 New Numbers
2019 New Numbers - Part One, Part Two and Part Three
2020 New Numbers

2021 New Numbers - Part One and Part Two

2022 New Numbers - Skipped it!

2023 New Numbers

Phils Acquire Reliever Soto from Tigers for Vierling, Maton

2023 Chachi New Additions #6

2022 Topps Now #342

2022 Topps Now #934

2022 Topps Now #719

2022 Choice Lehigh Valley IronPigs #33

The Phillies bullpen got stronger on Saturday, but it cost the team two young and popular players who both played a part in getting the club to the World Series in 2022.  Gregory Soto (lhp) and Kody Clemens (inf) were acquired from the Detroit Tigers for Matt Vierling (of), Nick Maton (inf) and Donny Sands (c).

Soto was an All-Star with the Tigers in 2021 and 2022, and he converted 30 of 33 save opportunities last season.  He appeared in a career-high 64 games, striking out 60 in 60 1/3 innings pitched.  His most recent mainstream baseball card can be found in the 2022 Topps set, and he began appearing in Bowman sets in 2018.  He wore #65 with the Tigers, and presumably he'll take that number with the Phillies too.  Clemens, son of former pitcher Roger Clemens, made his big league debut last season in May.  In 56 games with the Tigers, he batted .145 (17 for 117) while seeing time at third base, first base, second base, left field and seven games (!) as a reliever in blow-out losses.  He received a Topps Now card last season to mark his call-up.

It's tough to see Vierling and Maton go, as both were fan favorites and I'll forever associate both with the improbable march to the World Series in 2022.  Both came up with the team in 2021, filling in at various times as regulars.  Maton appeared in 86 games for the Phillies, batting .254.  He'll be remembered for the game-winning home run he hit off the Marlins' Sandy Alcantara in mid-September and the walk-off single against the Reds in early September to keep the Phillies' play-off hopes alive.

Vierling appeared in 151 games, batting .260 with eight home runs and 38 RBIs.  He struggled in the postseason, batting just .154 while getting starts in center field in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series.  Vierling had a few big hits in 2022, including his ninth inning home run off Brewers' closer Josh Hader in June and a 10th inning walk-off single against the Blue Jays in late September.  Doug fortunately got him to autograph a few cards at the Philly Show a month ago.

Donny Sands made it into three games with the Phillies in 2022, going 0 for 3.  He was used sparingly, but was on the active roster for 21 games.  Sands received a card in the IronPigs team set to mark his time with the club.

Departures - 2022-2023 Offseason

• Johan Camargo - inf (10/7/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Minnesota Twins, 11/27/22.
• Michael Kelly - rhp (10/14/22) - Elected free agency.
• Chris Devenski - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Los Angeles Angels, 11/28/22.
• Kyle Gibson - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Baltimore Orioles, 12/5/22.
• Brad Hand - lhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency.
• Corey Knebel - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency.
• David Robertson - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the New York Mets, 12/9/22.
• Noah Syndergaard - rhp (11/6/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, 12/16/22.
• Zach Eflin - rhp (11/7/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, 12/13/22.
• Jean Segura - 2b (11/7/22) - Elected free agency, signed with the Miami Marlins, 1/4/23.
• Mark Appel - rhp (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
• Jorge Bonifacio - of (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
• Nick Duron - rhp (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
• Yairo Munoz - inf (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
• Bubby Rossman - rhp (11/11/22) - Elected free agency.
• Nick Maton - inf , Matt Vierling - of and Donny Sands - c (1/7/23) - Traded to the Detroit Tigers for Gregory Soto and Kody Clemens.

New Additions - 2022-2023 Offseason

• Luis Ortiz - rhp (11/9/22) - Claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.
• Andrew Vasquez - rhp (11/9/22) - Claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.
• Jake Cave - of (12/2/22) - Claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles.
• Noah Song - rhp (12/7/22) - Selected from the Boston Red Sox in the annual rule 5 draft.
• Trea Turner - ss (12/8/22) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Matt Strahm - lhp (12/9/22) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Boston Red Sox.
• Taijuan Walker - rhp (12/16/22) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the New York Mets.
• Erich Uelmen - rhp (1/4/23) - Acquired from the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations.
• Craig Kimbrel - rhp (1/4/23) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Gregory Soto - lhp and Kody Clemens - inf (1/7/23) - Acquired from the Detroit Tigers for Nick Maton, Matt Vierling and Donny Sands.