Juan Soto is only 26 years old, but during his eight years in MLB he has established himself as a generational talent.
As a result big things are expected from the Dominican after signing the largest contract in professional sports history – 15 years for $765 million – with the New York Mets.
Some fans have already compared him to Barry Bonds, a player viewed by many as one of the greatest players of all time thanks to his exploits with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants over the course of his 22 year career.
However, if you ask Bonds himself, he has a clear idea on where Soto stands compared to his exploits on the diamond.
“Soto, you aint got a chance on me,” said Bonds when asked about he comparison.
Bonds vs Soto
When it comes to the current crop of MLB players, Soto is the one who has the most in common with Bonds.
Barry Bonds would much rather play today.
“Soto, you aint got a chance on me.” pic.twitter.com/SiEMckNK5L
? Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) January 28, 2025
Since making his debut with the Washington Nationals in 2018, he is #1 when it comes to OBP, #5 in SP, #4 in OPS, WPS and WPS+, and #29 in BR.
However when you compare Bonds and Soto at the age of 25, Soto is currently #17 in terms of all-time WAR, which puts him ahead of names like Bonds and Ted Williams, even though he may not challenge their lifetime numbers.
As for a World Series ring, Soto already has one of those after winning one with he Nationals in 2019 while Bonds ended his career without winning one. However Bonds did finish his career as a 2x MVP, something that Soto has yet to take home so far in his career.