By IAN WILSON
He’s been stealing bases at Soto-sonic speeds and is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Thomas Soto, the shortstop and leadoff hitter for the Moose Jaw Miller Express, swiped three bags in a July 28th win over the Swift Current 57’s at Mitchell Field to establish a new single-season Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) record for stolen bases.
The switch hitter from Round Rock, Texas entered the contest in a tie with Braden DeSonia of the Medicine Hat Mavericks, who stole 42 bases during the 2022 WCBL season, but his trio of thefts lifted Soto’s total this year to 45. With eight games remaining on the schedule for Moose Jaw, that number is expected to rise before the regular season comes to an end.
Soto recorded the record-breaking swipe in the third inning of Moose Jaw’s 8-2 win over Swift Current when he successfully slid feet first ahead of a tag attempt at second base. After dusting himself off, he received handshakes from the middle infielders with the 57’s and boisterous applause from the Miller Express dugout.
“It feels awesome … all thanks to the guys who take their pitches, let me steal my bags, all that sort of stuff. I’ve got a great couple of guys behind me. I’ve got (Chris) Franks, I’ve got William Edwards. They kind of let me do my thing, so thanks to them,” said Soto in a post-game interview, referring to the number two and three hitters in the Miller Express lineup.
Soto was asked about breaking the stolen base record at the WCBL All-Star Weekend in Saskatoon.
“That would be so amazing to do that. That would definitely be something that would be really cool,” he said before breaking down his approach on the base paths.
“I feel like it’s all reaction based, realistically. I feel like I try to pick up cues off of whatever I can off the pitcher, whether that’s leg kick and, maybe a twitch of the shoulder, before they go. I feel like most guys usually do have a pretty easy tell. Especially at that level, it’s not something most people kind of think about, you know, and it’s hard to get rid of bad habits and I feel like that’s what I kind of pick up on the most,” noted Soto.
“I’ve got amazing coaches at first and third base … they’re always giving me the times for the leg kicks and the pop times, and I’m always doing the math in my head, that’s what I was taught. I know how long it takes me to get to second base.”
The coaches were quick to return the praise to their All-Star middle infielder.
“It’s a tremendous accomplishment for Thomas and one that’s a reflection of the work he puts in every day,” said the Miller Express coaching staff in a statement on the team’s website.
“His speed changes games, but it’s his preparation, baseball IQ and determination that have allowed him to reach this milestone.”
This is the second season in a row that Soto has set a WCBL record. In 2025, the University of Texas at Dallas student registered 70 runs, which surpassed Zach Campbell’s run total of 69 from 2022. Campbell also suited up for the Moose Jaw Miller Express. Soto currently has 65 runs this season, putting him in a position to break the record he set last summer with a strong end to the campaign.
Soto is in his fourth season with the Millers. Through 193 regular-season games with the yellow and black, No. 22 has produced 109 stolen bases, 226 runs and 233 hits. He has been caught stealing 24 times during his WCBL career, including eight times this year.
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