San Diego Padres fans ecstatic about Juan Soto’s torrid offensive pace in Spring Training: "He’s winning MVP this year" "Best hitter in the world" 

Juan Soto didn't exactly live up to his superstar billing with the San Diego Padres last season following an Aug. 2 trade from the Washington Nationals. A career .287 hitter hit mustered up just a .236 batting average and six home runs over 52 games with the Padres.

However, over four-plus seasons with the Nationals, Soto smacked 119 homers, logging 358 RBIs and 430 runs. He also led the majors in walks in 2021 and 2022 with 145 and 135, respectively. So, San Diego wasn't too terribly worried about his mild slump after switching coasts.

Juan Soto seems to have shaken off the doldrums from late last season so far in spring training. He is hitting .800 over 11 plate appearances as the Padres prepare for a much-anticipated 2023 season.

San Diego fans are over the moon about Soto's hitting so far, albeit in a tremendously short sample size.

Padres fans seem to have short-circuited by seeing "Juan Soto, hitting .800" in their spring training telecasts. San Diego faithful are debating among themselves whether Soto could continue to get a hit on four out of each five plate appearances in the regular season. Remember, the highest batting average in the modern era (post-1900) is .426 by Nap Lajoie of the Philadelphia Athletics in 1901.

Again, yes. .. an .800 batting average is good. The last player to hit just .400 in the majors was Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox, who hit .406 in 1941 before taking the next three seasons off to fight in World War II.

Since then, Padres legend Tony Gwynn has come the closest by hitting .394 in 1994 – three hits shy of the .400 mark. George Brett of the Kansas City Royals hit .390 – five hits short of .400 – in 1980.

Ted Williams, at age 38, hit .388 in 1957, as did Rod Carew of the Minnesota Twins in 1977.

San Diegans have definitely lost their minds about Soto hitting .800. He's being paid $23 million dollars this season, so he is absolutely making the team. With Fernando Tatis Jr. slated to move to right field from shortstop this season, Soto is making the shift to left field.

Juan Soto primed for a big season in San Diego

Juan Soto of the San Diego Padres

If the Padres are able to realize their World Series-winning dreams in 2023, it is highly likely Juan Soto will have a lot to do with it. With a career 23.2 WAR over five major league seasons, Soto is just coming into his prime at age 23.