The feeling of the beat, an immortal future, the player of a generation, comparisons with Ted Williams and others have been part of the spring of the Dominican gardener Juan Soto, of the Nationals of Washington.
At 22, Soto knows what he wants and how he wants it and if they put him to choose between him and another, be it Mike Trout, Fernando Tatis Jr. or whoever, he will always choose himself.
“For me, my mentality always goes to me, I trust in myself, in my abilities. I’ve always commented that these players, I like their way of being, for me they are super stars, amazing, but in “the end of the day when we go to you, I’ll go to me. I’ll never take credit for Mike Trout. For me, he’s one of the best, but when they compare him to me, I’ll always pick myself.” above any, ”Soto said in an interview via Zoom.
And why not? MLB already considers him the third best gardener in the Major Leagues, just behind Trout and Mookie Betts.
In just three years in the Major Leagues he already has a championship title (2019) and a National League batting lead, after averaging 351 last season.
He tries to take things in stride and despite being extremely confident, he remains humble and enjoys the game.
“What I like most is beating. I love the game, going out to play hard, listening to people’s noise, but definitely what I like most is beating. But when I make a play in the gardens, running the bases, that’s good too, ”he added.
Soto left the game on Thursday when he heard a snap in his right calf during a turn in the 11-throw bat in front of compatriot Sixto Sanchez of the Miami Marlins. Soto received treatment on Friday and with a day off on Saturday, he is expected to return to the lineup on Sunday.
“I felt like he was squeezing a little calf, but everything will be fine in that regard,” the Quisqueian said.
“I’ll never take credit for Mike Trout. For me, he’s one of the best, but when they compare him to me, I’ll always pick myself above anyone else.”
Face the best
Soto is motivated with the start of the season and the Eastern Division of the National League, where he will face the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins very frequently.
But the funniest thing for Soto will be facing the best pitcher in the business.
“Jacob deGrom is the funniest batting turn, he’s the best pitcher in the business and it’s always good to face the best to challenge the mind and body,” he revealed.
In 15 rounds to bat for life against deGrom, Soto batted for 200, with a homer-three towed.
About the contract
ESPN magazine published a report on Soto in which he is profiled as the first athlete to receive a $ 500 million contract in professional sports in the United States.
For the Dominican, this will only be a motivation to help both his family and the people around him.
“For me, my family has always been the main thing. When they tell me about a long-term contract, I think of the people I will help. Not just my family, but the people who grew up with me, that of “When you see people who don’t have food, that’s strong. Since I signed on July 2, my mentality has always been to help my family, and I think that has made me better human,” he said.
He stays focused
Soto always stays focused on his work and there is little that takes him out of concentration when he is on the field of play. But how do you keep it from blurring out of the multiple distractions off the field?
“I try to stay away from social media during the season, this is handled by my reps, because I don’t want to get distracted,” he noted.