Part 5/8:
Modern Excellence: The Case of Juan Soto
To illustrate how WAR provides insight beyond batting average, we turn to the modern star, Juan Soto. In the 2023 season, Soto's batting average lingered around .275, well below the threshold usually associated with greatness. However, his WAR of 7.9 highlighted his immense value to the Yankees, showcasing how he adds wins through a combination of elite plate discipline and power hitting.
Soto’s ability to walk—often exceeding a .400 on-base percentage—reflects his mastery of getting on base, which translates into runs for his team. His effectiveness at the plate as a top hitter shines through metrics like Weighted On-Base Average (wOBA) and Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+), demonstrating that hitting is about more than just a batting average.