Livan Soto is a 26-year-old Venezuelan shortstop from Valencia who broke into the major leagues on September 17, 2022. A left-handed hitter who throws right, Soto has bounced between MLB organizations and the minors while quietly putting together some of the most impressive winter-ball numbers in the LVBP — the kind that keep scouts paying attention.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Livan Soto
- Position: Shortstop
- Current team: Leones del Caracas (LVBP, 2026-27)
- Jersey number: 19
- Bats / Throws: Left / Right
- Height / Weight: 5’10» / 161 lbs
- Born: June 22, 2000 — Valencia, Venezuela 🇻🇪
- MLB debut: September 17, 2022
Background
Soto came up through Venezuela’s baseball academies before earning his MLB call-up in the fall of 2022. Since then, he has worked to carve out a role as a reliable utility infielder at the big-league level, rotating between active rosters and the minors across different organizations.
Professional Career
In 2024, Soto appeared with both the Baltimore Orioles and the Cincinnati Reds. His best stretch came in Baltimore, where he posted a .300 average and an .862 OPS — solid numbers, even if his opportunities were limited. Overall on the season, he finished with a .231 AVG and a .683 OPS, still searching for the consistent everyday role that would let him show what he can do over a full slate of games.
Winter Ball: Where Soto Shines
The LVBP has been Soto’s stage, and he has made the most of it. Playing for the Leones del Caracas in the current 2026-27 season, he is absolutely raking: through 14 games, he’s hitting .440 with 1 home run, 5 RBI, and a 1.188 OPS. That’s not a fluke — his winter track record backs it up.
LVBP Career Stats
- 2026-27 · Leones del Caracas: 14 G | .440 AVG | 1 HR | 5 RBI | 1.188 OPS | 11 H
- 2025-26 · Leones del Caracas: 26 G | .304 AVG | 0 HR | 8 RBI | .818 OPS | 21 H
- 2024-25 · Leones del Caracas: 38 G | .309 AVG | 0 HR | 17 RBI | .813 OPS | 42 H
- 2022-23 · Águilas del Zulia: 11 G | .250 AVG | 0 HR | 3 RBI | .572 OPS | 11 H
MLB Stats (2024)
- Overall: .231 AVG | 0 HR | 0 RBI | 1 R | .683 OPS | 0 SB
- Baltimore Orioles: .300 AVG | 0 HR | 0 RBI | 1 R | .862 OPS
- Cincinnati Reds: .000 AVG | .000 OPS
The Pattern Worth Noticing
Soto’s numbers tell a consistent story: he performs best when he gets regular at-bats. Three straight LVBP winters hitting above .300 — and now a scorching .440 to open the 2026-27 campaign — suggest that continuity is the key ingredient missing from his MLB stints. If any organization gives him a real runway in 2027, don’t be surprised if those winter numbers start showing up in the box scores that matter most.
