Soto looks to make 2023 a big year in San Diego

If ever there was a player with something to prove in 2023, it’s Juan Soto.

After being acquired at last year’s trade deadline for a haul of prospects, the former Washington Nationals slugger proceeded to underwhelm in his first twoplus months with the San Diego Padres. In 52 games, the 24-yearold native of the Dominican Republic batted .236 with six home runs, 16 RBIs, an on-base percentage of

.388 and an OPS of .778. And in the postseason, it was more of same – .239, 2, 7, .314, .727. Not awful stats but certainly not those befitting a player widely considered to be a “generational talent” who is also seeking a nine-figure, multi-year contract.

So the pressure is on, not only for Soto to perform up to his career numbers and get his big payday but also for the Padres to lock up long term a superstar for whom they gave up so much.

For his part, Soto appears up to the challenge. Playing for the Dominican Republic in last month’s World Baseball Classic, the sweet-swinging lefty looked his usual self, batting .400 with a 1.500 OPS and two homers, one a monster 448-foot blast in the Dominican’s elimination loss to Puerto Rico.

He says a few tweaks to his swing have made all the difference.

“Mechanically, I was off last year, the whole year,” Soto said to a reporter. “I tried to find my mechanics, but I think I really found it again.”

Soto and the Padres can be seen in action twice this week on national television: Sunday, April 9, on ESPN, against the Atlanta Braves, and Tuesday, April 11, on ESPN, against the New York Mets.

Full name: Juan Jose

Soto Pacheco

Birth date: Oct. 25,

1998

Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Height/weight: 6 feet, 2 inches/224 pounds

Teams: Washington Nationals (2018-22), San Diego Padres (2022-present)

Position: Right field

Bats/throws: Left/left No.: 22

Honors and achievements: All-Star (2021,

2022); World Series champion (2019); Silver Slugger Award (2020, 2021); All-MLB First Team (2020, 2021); NL batting champion (2020); Home Run Derby champion (2022)

Friday

2 p.m. NBCSCH Philadelphia Flyers at Chicago Blackhawks. From the United Center in Chicago.

Saturday

7 p.m. WPWR AHL Hockey Grand Rapids Griffins at Chicago Wolves. From Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill.

Motorcycle Racing

Saturday

2 p.m. WEEK WMAQ Motorcycle Racing Monster Energy Supercross: Atlanta. From Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga.

Outdoors

Saturday

12 p.m. WBBM WMBD Fishing The Catch. Coverage of the saltwater fishing tournament featuring top celebrity talents. From Fontainebleau Miami Beach in Miami.

Rugby

Friday

12 p.m. NBCSCH Rugby All the action from rugby matches.

Sportsquiz

Skating

Sunday

2 p.m. WEEK WMAQ Figure Skating World Championships. The world’s best figure skaters fight to win a world championship. From Saitama, Japan.

Tuesday

2 p.m. NBCSCH Speed Skating Speed skating competitions from around the world.

Soccer

Tuesday

2 p.m. WBBM WMBD UEFA Champions League Soccer Teams TBA. Coverage of matches played within the European club football competition.

Wednesday

2 p.m. WBBM WMBD UEFA Champions League Soccer Teams TBA. Coverage of matches played within the European club football competition.

Saturday

11:30 a.m. WEEK WMAQ Premier League Soccer Manchester City vs. Leicester City. Manchester City takes on Leicester City at Etihad Stadium in matchround 31 of the Premier League. In last season’s Premier League, the Citizens recorded a 6-3 home victory against the Foxes on Dec. 26, 2021. The hosts led 4-0 after only 25 minutes.

BY GEORGE DICKIE

Remembering Curt Gowdy

Questions:

1) Legendary sportscaster Curt Gowdy died on February 20, 2006. When and where was he born?

2) In which sport did Gowdy excel at the University of Wyoming?

3) Name the MLB team that Gowdy landed a job with in 1951.

4) What was his nickname at that job?

5) Which event was the highlight of his broadcasting years with Boston?

6) Many credit Gowdy with helping an upstart sports league gain popularity in the early 1960s. Name it.

7) Which famous football game is Gowdy most noted for broadcasting?

8) Gowdy announced a number of Super Bowls; how many?

9) How many World Series did Gowdy call?

10) An avid hunter and angler, name the long-running outdoor TV show Gowdy hosted.

Answers:

10) ABC’s “The American Sportsman”

9) 13, including 10 consecutive for NBC

8) Seven, all for NBC

He also called the infamous “Heidi” game in 1968

7) The first Super Bowl in 1967.

6) The American Football League (AFL); Gowdy called the games for NBC

5) In 1960, Gowdy was at the microphone when Ted Williams hit a home run in his final major league at-bat

4) He was labeled “The voice of the Red Sox”

3) The Boston Red Sox

2) Basketball

1) Gowdy was born July 31, 1919, in Green River, Wyo.

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SWV & Xscape "Pray on It..."

SWV & Xscape "DisChord"

SWV & Xscape "Top Billing"

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<++ 50 First Dates ('04)Drew Barrymore, Rob Schneider, Adam Sandler. The Office The Office The Office The Office The Office The Office The Office The Office

USA Premier League Soccer Leeds United vs. Crystal Palace (N) (Live) Premier (N) (Live) Race to Survive "Meet the Monster " (:40) <+++ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ('05) Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe.

Friends Friends Friends <++ Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery ('97) Elizabeth Hurley,Mike Myers.

(:05) <+++ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoeni x ('07) Rupert Grint,Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe.

<+++ Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me ('99) Mike Myers. <++ Austin Powers in Goldmember ('02) Beyoncé, Seth Green, Mike Myers.

37 180 311 FREE <++ Alice in Wonderland ('10) Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Johnny Depp <++ The Princess Diaries ('01)Anne Hathaway, Héctor Elizondo,Julie Andrews (:10) <++ The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement ('04) Julie Andrews, Héctor Elizondo, Anne Hathaway

(:50) <+++ Brave ('12)

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Kiff Hamster & Gretel Marvel's Mo Marvel's Mo Molly McGee Molly McGee <++

Gypsy Wedding "Wild Gypsy Mellie" Gypsy "She's Out of There, She's Got to .. Gypsy "Double Wedding From Hell"

"It's Raining Men"

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Caught on Camera Paranorma "Mermaid in Nashville and More" Paranorma "Stonehe nge UFOs..

120 269 HIST

"Three's a Crowd, but Four ..." 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way

Day Fiancé: The Other Way

Day Fiancé: The Other Way "For Every Joy There Is a Price To Be Paid" 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way

Jesus-Life "Mary: The First Miracles" Jesus: His Life Jesus: His LifeJesus: His Life "Pilate: The Trial" Jesus: His Life Built America "Soup of the Cent ury" Built America "The Rise of a Rival" Built America "Chip Dynasties" America "Godfathers of Fast Food" Built America "Ice Cream Empires"

118 265 A&E 24 Hour "Storefront Setback in Somerset"

Zombie Flip "Tampa: Spring Hill"

Flip "Tampa: Temple Hill"

Flip "Tampa: Tarpon" and Afraid "Kalahari Cold Front "

45 112 229 HGTV The Flipping El "Five Flipping Bears" Flipping "There's a New Fl pper in Town" The Flipping El "Rocky Horror Reno"

Unsellable "TwoBedroom Dilemma"

Deepwater Horizon ('16) Kurt Russell, Douglas

Griffin, Mark Wahlberg <++ The A-Team ('10) Bradley Cooper,Jessica Biel, Liam Neeson Biography "Shawn Michaels" and Afraid "No Gear, No Fear" Naked-Solo "The Long Trek Back" Naked-Solo "Bladder Parasite" Naked and Afraid "Sucker Punched in South Africa"

Unsellable Houses "Mid-Mod Oasis"

Unsellable "Builder Drab to Coastal Fab" Unsellable Houses "Retro Reno"

Unsellable Houses "Rustic Cabin Reno " Unsellable Houses Home Town "First Time's the Charm"

46 241 241 PARM Bar Rescue "Momster's Ball" Bar Rescue "Big Sister's Watching" Bar Rescue "Gettin' Jigger With It" Bar RescueBar RescueBar Rescue "Caving In" Bar Rescue "Un-Civil War" Bar Rescue "Get Off Your Ass!" Bar Rescue "Life's a Beach" Bar Rescue "Sactown Going Down"

50 236 E! Kardashian Kardashian Kardashian Kardashian Kardashian Kardashian

57 38 245 TNT

NCIS: New Orleans "Checkmate, Part II" NCIS: New Orleans "See You Soon" NCIS: New Orleans "Inside Out"

Prank "Nick Cannon V. Kevin Hart"

Celebrity Game Face <+++ Easy A ('10) Penn Badgley ,Amanda Bynes, Emma Stone.

<++++ Star Wars: A New Hope ('77)Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill.

ANIMAL Wardens "A Buck's Blood" Wardens "Protecting Montana's Wild" Wardens "A Hunter' s Lie" Wardens "Joy Ride Jeopardy"

"The Big Bully"

<+++ The Help ('11) Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard,Viola Davis.

(:45) <++++ Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back ('80) Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill.

Star Law "Poachers Beware"

GPS CNN

Star Law "Red Flag"

NHL on TNT (N)

NHL Hockey

(N) CNN Newsroom (N) CNN Newsroom (N) CNN Newsroom With Jim Acosta (N) CNN Newsroom With Jim Acosta (N)

TVLAND Gold Girls Gold Girls Gold Girls Gold Girls Gold Girls Gold Girls Gold Girls Gold Girls Mike & Molly Mike & Molly Mike "I See Love" Mike "Pilot" Mike "First Date" Mike "First Kiss" Mike & Molly Mike & Molly Mike & Molly Mike & Molly Mike & Molly Mike & Molly

Reba

Reba Reba Reba < Summer Villa ('16)Victor Webster, Emorphia Margaritis, Hilarie Burton. < Love in the Maldives ('23) Jake Manley, Juliana Wimbles, Jocelyn Hudon. < Love at First Glance ('17) Adrian Gr enier, Jonathan Bennett,Amy Smart. < Wedding Every Weeken d ('20) Paul Campbell,Kimberl y Sustad.