MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Soto Traded for Big-Leaguer Peralta

Published on July 28, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Midwest League All-Star Giovanni Soto did not have to travel far to join his new team after being traded straight-up for big leaguer on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old Whitecaps' left-hander was traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Cleveland Indians for third baseman Jhonny Peralta.

Having just arrived in suburban Cleveland to start a three-game series with the Indians-affiliated Lake County Captains on Wednesday, Soto switched clubhouses at Classic Park to join his new teammates before Wednesday's game. Previously scheduled to pitch for the 'Caps against Lake County on Thursday, it remains to be seen whether he will take the hill against West Michigan before the Whitecaps leave town on Friday.

As indicated by his involvement in a one-for-one trade for a major league regular, Soto is in the midst of a breakout season that has put him on the prospect radar. The teenager from Puerto Rico is 6-6 with a 2.61 ERA, leading the Midwest League with two complete-game shutouts and ranking second with a 2.61 ERA. In 16 starts and 82.2 innings of work, he has 76 strikeouts and 25 walks.

Up to this point, the highlight of Soto's season came on June 16 when the wiry Puerto Rican twirled a nine-inning complete-game, three-hit shutout against Lake County at Fifth Third Ballpark. Earlier in the year, he burst onto the Midwest League scene with 10 strikeouts over a dominant five innings of work in front of a boisterous crowd of 9,132 at the Whitecaps' home-opener against Fort Wayne on April 11.

"It's tough to lose somebody like that," said Whitecaps manager Joe DePastino. "He's been one of our top pitchers and done a great job, but the big league club needed somebody. It's good for him to be traded for a big leaguer straight-up like that."

While Soto heads to the Indians, the Tigers receive third baseman Jhonny Peralta to bolster the major league infield. Peralta, a 28-year-old from the Dominican Republic, was hitting .246 with seven homers, 43 RBI and 23 doubles for the Indians in his eighth season with the club. A career .264 hitter, Peralta has registered double-digit home run totals and at least 68 RBI in each of his last five years.

Currently on the road, the 'Caps will return to Fifth Third Ballpark to open a seven-game homestand with a 7:00 p.m. start against the Dayton Dragons on Saturday, July 31, featuring post-game fireworks presented by Farm Bureau Insurance. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting whitecapsbaseball.com.

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Midwest League Stories from July 28, 2010


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