Soto Diaz joins Utica Unicorns in USPBL

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman baseball alum Bradley Soto Diaz (Davenport, Fla.) has signed with the Utica Unicorns in the United States Professional Baseball League.

"We are so happy for Bradley," Carson-Newman head coach Tom Griffin said. "It has been his dream to have an opportunity to play pro ball and to see this take place is a blessing. He is a great kid who is passionate about the game. Although he was with us only one year, he made a positive impact with everyone in the program."

In Soto Diaz's lone season in Mossy Creek, he finished as the team's second-best hitter with a .380 batting average in his 47 starts. He notched 57 hits, 15 doubles, six home runs, drove in 38 runs and drew 31 walks, all marks which were second-highest on the club. His 12 stolen bases led the Eagles. Three of his six home runs came during a series with #19 Wingate. The senior launched one home run in each game of the series, becoming the third Eagle hitter in the past eight seasons to homer in three straight contests.

The All-SAC third team outfielder hit an astounding .386 with runners in scoring position, tied for the best mark on the club. After going hitless in his C-N debut, he preceded to hit safely in 15 straight contests, the longest hitting streak by an Eagle in the 2026 season. He ended his career with Carson-Newman by reaching base safely in his final 19 career games. Soto Diaz recorded 16 multi-hit and eight multi-RBI games.

The USPBL is a four-team league that launched in May of 2016. The teams are comprised of top-level college baseball players from around the country.