Chicago Cubs: Greatest players of the decade – #40-31

Chicago Cubs: No. 38: Geovany Soto

Geovany Soto busted through in a big way for the Chicago Cubs during the 2008 NL Central Championship season, batting .285 with 23 home runs and 86 RBI at the catcher position, earning an All-Star appearance and the NL Rookie of the Year award. Soto would never repeat those numbers, though he still contributed to the Cubs at the beginning of the decade.

After a down 2009, Soto bounced back to have a solid 2010, batting .280 while hitting 17 home runs and driving in 53. Then in 2011, Soto matched his power numbers, hitting 17 home runs and driving in 54 while hitting 26 doubles. However, his batting average dipped to .228, while his OPS plummeted from .890, which was actually higher than his 2008 season of .868, all the way down to .721. Still, it’s not bad production from the catcher’s spot, while Soto was decent if not spectacular behind the plate.

Soto struggled in 2012, and the Cubs traded him to the Rangers during the season. He bounced around to a few different clubs, last appearing with the White Sox in 2017.