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.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (calf) is back in the team's Cactus League lineup on Wednesday, starting in left field and batting second against the Texas Rangers. Soto was scratched from the spring lineup on Monday as a precaution due to left calf tightness, but he's back in there to face the Rangers. The fact that the 24-year-old isn't serving as the designated hitter also speaks to how minor his injury was. Soto is hands down one of the best all-around hitters in baseball with elite plate discipline, which is why he's ranked No. 11 overall by RotoBaller heading into the 2023 season. He was a bit of a disappointment at the plate last year and struggled a bit after being traded from the Nationals to the Padres, but it's a good bet that he bounces back with plenty of lineup protection around him in SD.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (calf) is expected to get back into the starting lineup on Tuesday, according to manager Bob Melvin. The left-handed slugger was scratched from the lineup on Monday due to a calf issue. It appears the organization is being extremely cautious with it being this early into Spring Training. This must be a minor issue with the team allowing him to get back into the lineup the next day. That being said, Soto appears to be fine and fantasy managers shouldn't have anything to worry about.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (calf) was scratched from Monday's Cactus League game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with left calf tightness. David Dahl will now bat second and start in center field for the Padres, while Taylor Kohlwey will bat seventh and start in left field. The Padres are probably just being cautious early in camp with one of the best hitters in baseball, but we'll keep a close eye on his injury the rest of the week. Soto was traded from the Nationals to the Padres last August, and while he underwhelmed in the second half in SD, he's fully expected to bounce back in 2023 in one of the most stacked lineups in MLB. He's also making the transition from right field to left field in his first full season with the Friars.

San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin said that outfielder Juan Soto will play left field this season. Soto has played right field throughout his career, but the Padres' outfield mix suggested he might need to move around this year. Melvin said the club would keep him in left. "His preparation is pretty epic. He would like to be able to prepare for one position," Melvin said. With the 24-year-old now in left field, shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. is expected to spend most of his time in right field in 2023 after serving the final 20 games of his suspension from 2022. Soto is one of the best all-around hitters in the game in one of the best lineups in baseball, but he struggled in the second half after being traded to San Diego. He picked it up in the postseason a bit, though, and most fantasy managers are expecting a rebound in his first full season with the Friars in 2023.

The San Diego Padres and outfielder Juan Soto avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $23 million deal, according to sources. The Padres swung a blockbuster trade to acquire Soto and first baseman Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals at last year's trade deadline. The two-time All-Star disappointed in 52 games to close the regular season for the Friars, though, hitting .236/.388/.390 with six home runs, 16 RBI and 31 runs scored. Still, he's only 24 years old and remains one of the best all-around hitters in the game with elite on-base skills, so there's a very good chance he bounces back for the Padres and fantasy managers alike in 2023, especially with no more shift.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto plans to play in the Dominican Professional Baseball League during their postseason next week for Tigres del Licey, according to Grandes en Los Deportes. The two-time All-Star could make his debut as early as Monday when the semifinals begin. The 24-year-old Soto began the 2022 season with the Washington Nationals before being dealt to the San Diego Padres in a blockbuster trade at the Aug. 2. deadline. Soto hit just .236/.388/.390 with six home runs and 16 RBI in 52 regular season games in San Diego, but he's fully expected to bounce back in 2023 from a disappointing campaign by his standards, especially with the shift being outlawed next season.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto went deep Saturday night, knocking a two-run home run off Phillies reliever Brad Hand, but it wasn't enough to prevent a 10-6 loss that pushes San Diego to the brink of elimination. Soto went 1-for-4 in the game. It hasn't been the best stretch for Soto at the plate this postseason, as he has produced a .647 OPS with one homer and one steal in 43 plate appearances.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto is not in the starting lineup on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants and left-hander Carlos Rodon. Soto will get the day off with the Friars already clinching a wild-card spot in the National League, and it will be his first day of rest after starting each of the team's previous 33 contests. The 23-year-old lefty slugger has hit .240/.393/.397 with six home runs, 16 RBI and 31 runs scored in 51 games for the Padres since being acquired from the Nationals at the Aug. 2 trade deadline. However, he's gone 11-for-39 (.282) with two homers and three RBI in his last 10 games, so he could be heating up at the right time for a playoff run. Brandon Dixon is in right field and hitting seventh against Rodon on Tuesday.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (shoulder) is in the lineup Friday night against Dustin May and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Soto was injured during Wednesday's game after being hit by a pitch and had to be taken out early due to a right shoulder contusion. However, the 23-year-old superstar feels better after a day off Thursday and is ready to get right back in the lineup. The Padres' coveted trade deadline acquisition has hit just .232/.397/.374 in 127 PA with the team, numbers that simply aren't up to par for a hitter of his caliber. Although he's been frustrating, Soto remains a must-start for fantasy managers. Get him back in your lineup.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (shoulder) sustained a right shoulder contusion during Wednesday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the star outfielder should be "ok" after Thursday's team's scheduled day off. A pitch hit him in the shoulder, but he initially stayed in the game before being pulled in the top of the fifth inning for Trent Grisham. Soto avoids a significant injury and should return to the lineup for Friday's contest against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Soto is slashing .243/.406/.460 with 24 home runs, 52 RBI, 82 runs, and six stolen bases over 562 plate appearances in 130 games in 2022.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (back) was removed from Wednesday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks after being hit by a pitch in the upper back. He went 0-for-1 with a strikeout before exiting. The 23-year-old initially stayed in the game before being pulled in the top of the fifth inning for Trent Grisham. He will undergo further evaluation after the game and is considered day-to-day. Soto has struggled over his last 10 games, hitting .143 (5-for-35) with one homer, two RBI, and six runs. Grisham and Wil Myers would see an uptick in at-bats if Soto is forced to miss any time. Stay tuned.