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Naldo “Train” Soto – First Base – Christchurch Chinooks – 91.2% First Ballot

Naldo Soto was a 6’4’’, 200 pound right-handed first baseman from Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Nicknamed “the Train,” Soto was a great contact hitter against both sides with a rock solid pop in his bat. His gap power was especially impressive, leading the league seven times in doubles. Soto gave you 38 doubles and 4 triples per his 162 game average. His home run power was respectable too with 28 per 162 and three seasons with 40+ homers.

Soto was better than most in OBA at avoiding strikeouts, but below average at drawing walks. His speed and baserunning skills were both poor. Despite that, Soto was a reliably above average to good defender at first base. He briefly played right field in the middle of his career and was terrible there. Soto’s durability was generally strong as he played 125+ games in all 16 of his pro seasons.

Most Filipino players play in Austronesia Professional Baseball, but Soto declared his intentions for the Oceania Baseball Association after an impressive amateur career. The Philippines was outside of the regional requirements for the OBA Draft’s first three rounds, meaning Soto wasn’t eligible until round four. In 2007, Soto was the fourth pick of the fourth round, 67^th overall, by Vanuatu. The Wizards were still a new expansion franchise that had started play in only 2006.

Soto was a full-time starter right away, but was terrible as a rookie with .581 OPS and -1.4 WAR. He looked decent in his sophomore campaign, then was solid by year three as he led in doubles for the first time. Soto’s lone Gold Glove came in 2012. In 2013, he flashed home run power for the first time with 40 dingers and a Pacific League best 114 RBI. That was also his best Vanuatu season by WAR at 6.3.

The Wizards still had little luck contending in those early years, finally getting their first winning campaign in 2014. Soto was gone for free agency though after the 2013 season at age 28. With Vanuatu, he had 939 games, 1049 hits, 394 runs, 180 doubles, 122 home runs, 487 RBI, 222 walks, .296/.340/.457 slash, 129 wRC+, and 20.8 WAR. Soto was generally popular though for a solid effort in the Wizards’ formative years.

Soto’s most famous tenure began in 2014 on a five-year, $58,900,000 deal with Christchurch. Although his biggest successes came in New Zealand, around this time Soto also represented his native Philippines in the World Baseball Championship. From 2013-23, he played 72 games with 41 hits, 20 runs, 9 doubles, 11 homers, 26 RBI, .220/.319/.446 slash, and 1.0 WAR. Soto struggled in a backup role in 2015, but was part of the Filipino World Champion team that year.

Christchurch was the reigning Oceania Champion when they signed Soto and he helped them establish an Australasia League dynasty. He led in doubles from 2014-16, although his first year saw a big dip in homers down to 17. Soto rebounded with a career best 48 homers and 129 RBI by 2016. That year also saw a second place in MVP voting and Soto’s career bests in runs (117), OPS (1.070), wRC+ (189), and WAR (8.4). Soto was third in 2015’s MVP voting and second in 2016, winning Silver Sluggers both years at 1B.

The Chinooks went 105-57 and repeated as OBA champs in 2014, besting Tahiti in the finale. Christchurch repeated as AL champs in 2015, but lost their finals rematch to the Tropics. Soto’s playoff numbers were unremarkable these two years going 8-36 with 5 runs, 2 homers, 6 RBI, and 0 WAR. He fared better in the 2014 World Baseball Championship but only played 14 games and started 6 with 0.3 WAR and 1.003 OPS. The Chinooks took third in the event at 13-6.

2016 was a historic 126-36 season for Christchurch, tying the world record for wins in a season. However, they suffered a shocking 4-3 defeat in the Oceania Championship to Guam. This was Soto’s best postseason effort going 11-28 with 4 runs, 4 doubles, 2 homers, 6 RBI, 1.164 OPS, and 0.5 WAR. The Chinooks qualified for the 2016 BGC and finished 11-8 in a five-way tie for fifth. Incidentally, the same Golden Eagles that took the OBA title from Christchurch went on to win the Grand Championship. Soto in the event had 18 hits, 13 runs, 4 doubles, 3 homers, 11 RBI, .829 OPS, and 0.5 WAR.

Christchurch was one win behind Brisbane for the 2017 pennant. They stayed above .500 but out of the hunt for 2018 and 2019. Soto remained strong and took second in MVP voting for both 2017 and 2018. He won a Silver Slugger in 2017 at RF with league bests in batting average (.350), OBP (.397), OPS (1.030), and wRC+ (175). He won another batting title in 2018 at .359. Soto’s home run power dipped in 2019, but he made up for it by setting the OBA single-season doubles record with 56. This remains OBA’s top doubles mark as of 2037.

Certainly Soto had lived up to his original deal and signed a five-year, $73,500,000 extension with Christchurch in May 2018. He led in doubles twice more and in 2022 led the AL in OPS (1.040) and wRC+ (180). That year at age 36, Soto had his career bests in hits (213), average (.369), and OBP (.408).

Christchurch returned to the Australasia League perch to start the new decade, taking the pennant in 2020, 2021, and 2023. They were unable to add another OBA title to the mantle, falling to Guam, Vanuatu, and Port Moresby chronologically. Soto’s career playoff numbers weren’t bad, but they weren’t outstanding. In 35 games, he had 39 hits, 13 runs, 6 doubles, 5 homers, 21 RBI, .300/.324/.477 slash, 124 wRC+, and 0.6 WAR.

As his career progressed, Soto battled with his Hall of Fame classmate Adrian Kali and Dale Harper for the OBA career doubles record. The group each passed the old high of 510 by Henry Bell, who had been the only one to reach 500 over OBA’s first 50 seasons. All three finished their careers in 2023 but Soto would be third at 570 behind Harper’s 596 and Kali’s 574. Soto was also hoping to join both in the 3000 hit club, although he failed to reach that mark.

Soto wasn’t quite ready to retire when he did though. 2023 was the last year of the Christchurch deal and he still posted 2.9 WAR, although his .473 slugging was his lowest power output in more than a decade. Soto was a free agent for 2024 with no one signing him all year. He eventually retired that winter at age 39 and the Chinooks quickly honored him and retired his #2 uniform. With Christchurch, Soto had 1486 games, 1872 hits, 918 runs, 390 doubles, 297 home runs, 996 RBI, .333/.370/.577 slash, 158 wRC+, and 56.1 WAR.

The final stats had 2425 games, 2921 hits, 1312 runs, 570 doubles, 58 triples, 419 home runs, 1483 RBI, 524 walks, .319/.358/.531 slash 147 wRC+, and 76.9 WAR. As of 2037, Soto is 27^th in games, 8^th in hits, 23^rd in runs, 17^th in total bases (4864), 3^rd in doubles, 47^th in home runs, 15^th in runs, and 29^th in WAR for position players. Among batters with 3000+ plate appearances, Soto’s triple slash ranks 14^th/25^th/56^th and his .889 OPS is 28^th.

Soto probably falls just short of the “inner-circle” level of Hall of Fame inductees. Still, his tallies were plenty impressive and he was in the MVP conversation at his peak. Soto was also a big part of six Australasia League pennants, two OBA titles, and a 126-win season for Christchurch. He received 91.2% for a firm first ballot selection, making Soto the third of four inductees in the loaded 2029 class for the Oceania Baseball Association.



August Lantz – Starting Pitcher – Guadalcanal Green Jackets – 89.1% First Ballot

August Lantz was a 6’2’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Perth, the largest city in Western Australia. Lantz was known for pinpoint control, although his stuff was solid despite not being overpowering. His movement did grade as below average, leading to occasional issues allowing home runs and an extreme flyball tendency.

Lantz’s fastball peaked in the 93-95 mph range, but he had a deadly changeup that garnered many whiffs. He had a five-pitch arsenal that also included a knuckle curve, splitter, and forkball. Each option was respectable and Lantz knew how to alternative between his options. His stamina was very good, but he’d lose a few starts to injuries in multiple seasons. His defense and pickoff move were both subpar.

Few players were more respected and admired amongst their peers. Lantz was a team captain and known for his leadership, work ethic, and loyalty. He was considered one of the highest character men of the Pacific League. Lantz spent his entire career in the PL despite growing up in Australia. In July 1999, a teenaged Lantz signed a developmental deal with Guadalcanal. He spent just over six years in the academy on the Solomon Islands before debuting in 2005 at age 21.

Lantz was passable as a part-time starter as a rookie, earning a full-time rotation spot after that. His production was average in his first two full seasons, followed by struggles in 2008 that were exasperated by a sprained ankle and shoulder bursitis. Lantz bounced back with a good 2009, followed by his finest season in 2010. He took second in Pitcher of the Year voting with a league and career best 27-4 record. Lantz also posted his career high WAR (9.4), FIP- (58), and posted his first of four straight 300+ strikeout seasons.

This helped Guadalcanal emerge as a contender after being generally mediocre since the 1980s. The Green Jackets ended a 32-year pennant drought and set a franchise record at 113-49. They would be defeated in the Oceania Championship by Melbourne’s dynasty, who also won 113 games in 2010. Lantz posted a 4.76 over 11.1 innings and two starts. The season performance though earned him a seven-year, $33,880,000 extension with Guadalcanal signed in April 2011.

Lantz was never a Pitcher of the Year finalist again, but he posted 6+ WAR in each of the next four seasons. Guadalcanal was second in the Pacific League in 2011, then won back-to-back pennants in 2012-13. The Green Jackets were 103-59 in 2012 and got revenge over the Mets for the OBA title. Guadalcanal broke their franchise record in 2013 at 115-47, but fell in the finale to Christchurch.

Overall, Lantz had good playoff numbers in those runs and finished with a career 3.07 ERA over 44 innings, 2-1 record, 48 strikeouts, and 1.2 WAR. Guadalcanal made the Baseball Grand Championship both years and finished 12-7 both times. In 2012, that put them in a five-way tie for the top spot, officially taking second after the tiebreakers were sorted. In 2013, the Green Jackets were one of three tied for third, officially placing fourth. Lantz had an iffy 4.60 ERA and 48 Ks over 31.1 innings in 2012. He fared better in 2013 with a 3.48 ERA over 31 innings and 45 strikeouts.

Lantz was also a regular for his native Australia in the World Baseball Championship, although his stats were underwhelming. He had 36 appearances from 2008-21 with an 11-9 record, 4.22 ERA, 213.1 innings, 235 strikeouts, 56 walks, and 1.6 WAR. The Australians notably took fourth in 2012 and also earned a division title in 2017.

Guadalcanal remained in the top half of the standings for the rest of the decade, but weren’t able to take the top spot again. Lantz remained largely steady, although he lost some time in 2015 to a strained hamstring and a strained oblique in 2017. Now 35-years old, Lantz signed a two-year, $5,920,000 extension in October 2018. After the 2019 campaign though, Lantz was traded to Honolulu for three prospects and a draft pick.

For the Green Jackets, Lantz had a 233-164 record, 3.37 ERA, 3698 innings, 3805 strikeouts, 503 walks, 108 ERA+, and 80.1 WAR. For his 15 years of service and important role in three titles, Lantz’s #27 uniform would later be retired. Honolulu was the defending Pacific League champ and hoped Lantz could give them some pitching depth. They ultimately dropped to 83-79 in 2020, although Lantz gave them his standard production with a 3.56 ERA over 272.2 innings and 5.4 WAR. With the Honu, he became the 11^th in OBA history to reach 4000 strikeouts.

A free agent for the first time at age 37, Lantz signed a three-year, $24,300,000 deal with Guam, who had replaced Honolulu atop the PL in 2020. He was decent with a 3.27 ERA over 55 innings, but missed most of the 2021 campaign to shoulder inflammation. Lantz then lost the entire 2022 season with a damaged elbow ligament at the end of spring training. He was let go by the Golden Eagles for 2023.

Lantz still wanted to play and Tahiti gave him a shot for 2023 on a one-year, $4,400,000 deal. He suffered a partially torn labrum in late March, keeping him out until the summer. Lantz made it back for two starts, allowing one run over six innings. However, elbow inflammation kept him out for the rest of the season. Lantz opted to retire that winter at age 40.

The final stats for Lantz had a 252-183 record, 3.38 ERA, 4031.2 innings, 4126 strikeouts, 541 walks, 316/539 quality starts, 141 complete games, 18 shutouts, 107 ERA+, 84 FIP-, and 86.1 WAR. As of 2037, Lantz ranks 7^th in wins, 8^th in innings, 14^th in strikeouts, and 17^th in pitching WAR. His 1.21 BB/9 is 26^th among all pitchers with 1000+ career innings. However, Lantz falls outside of the top 100 for the other rate stats.

Lantz was never overwhelmingly dominant and wasn’t generally viewed as a top three pitcher in his prime. He was incredibly consistent though and racked up accumulations that certainly placed him among the greats. Lantz’s leadership couldn’t be overstated either, playing a big role in three Pacific League pennants and one OBA title for Guadalcanal. Lantz received 89.1% for the first ballot induction, the fourth member of a loaded 2029 Hall of Fame class for the Oceania Baseball Association.