Catching up with three-time LatinoMVP Juan Soto

Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports

FLUSHING, NY — In my previous article, “Nice To Be Back at Citi Field to Deliver Gifts to 2025 LatinoMVP Finalists,” I wrote about my return to the Mets clubhouse for the first time since last season. I also noted that I had the opportunity to interview Juan Soto, an opportunity that was difficult to come by last year. Soto was cordial, engaging, and generous with his time, making for an enjoyable and informative conversation. As promised, I am publishing that interview separately. I have chosen to present it as a standalone feature rather than as part of a longer article, allowing readers to focus exclusively on Soto’s comments and insights.

I caught up with Juan as he was standing alone in front of his locker. I walked up to him and handed him his special LatinoMVP Award gift bag. As he asked what was in the bag, I told him it was the shirt that we traditionally give to every player that appears on the ballot for our awards.  

I told him I also came to congratulate him for once again winning the LatinoMVP award, his third of his career and with 2025 marking a repeat. A back-to-back milestone as Juan had won his first LatinoMVP Award in 2021 as a member of the Washington Nationals and then again in 2024 for his dominant year with the Yankees. 

He looked a bit puzzled, so I asked him if he was told that he had won the 2025 NL LatinoMVP Award which he responded with “no.” I understand that many players are so caught up in their routines that they might forget some details told to them by the team’s staff. So, I explained the award, and more behind this major honor. 

I told him this was his third-career LatinoMVP, explaining that the award is the oldest and most prestigious award given to Latino baseball players. I then spoke on how the awards began in 1990 when many fans and sports correspondents believed that the Baseball Writers of Association of America (BBWAA) overlooked the young Texas Rangers outfielder Rubén Sierra for the 1989 season and gave the award to Robin Yount. I explained how I was a South Bronx school teacher and believed that our youth needed to see more Latino role models and now we are celebrating 36 years of this award.

I reminded him that he had won the award when he was with the Nationals and that he won his second when he was with the Yankees. I recited the popular Bad Bunny verse, “Con los Yankee y los Mets, Juan Soto” (He laughed) and told him—he had now won it with the Mets. A player of his stature, like Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, David Ortiz and several other Latino greats, have been named a recipient of so many awards that it’s easy for them to not remember every single one as well as when and where. 

Juan smiled and said it felt great to win his third. He added how it feels good to be represented in the Latin community. 

“I think it’s great for me and for my family. You know me, coming from a humble place and getting to the point of where we are right now, it’s really a proud moment.” 

I asked him his thoughts on having an award exclusively for Latino baseball players. He responded that it was cool. 

“You know to get to be seen and get to be recognized in the league is really cool. There’s a lot of players from all over the world competing against each other, but getting recognized by the Latin community, it’s incredible.”

I explained that Latino Sports is a New York based organization promoting, defending and advocating the rights of Latino athletes.

Further going into how we were one of the first to raise the issue of having interpreters for Spanish dominant players and to also have accents on Spanish surnames, therefore, we were proud to have players like him representing New York teams.

I asked him how he felt about the move across the river to Queens from the Bronx and has he acclimated well to the city? He stated that he moved, still living around the same area, that it was a little longer drive but that it was worth it.

Regarding acclimating to New York and how he presently feels? 

“I’m feeling good in all aspects of the game. My swing, my body, everything feels great. Right now, we haven’t been winning many ballgames but I think things are going to turn at some point. I feel good in the city of New York. It’s always hugging me and making me feel great.”

I told him that he is a popular figure in the New York sports scene and that he has a lot of fans that love him. He smiled and appreciated my feedback. I then asked him if he had become a “Dominican York,” as in does he feel more like a New Yorker. He said that “New York is always going to be my second home. These past couple of years have been good, people have been treating me well and making me feel part of them. It’s really cool to see that.”

I told him that there’s two things he had to experience to be a New Yorker. I asked him if he had eaten pizza? He smiled and said that he had some, but he does not think he has found the right New York pizza yet. I continued and said, the second experience is have you seen a New York rat cross the street anywhere. 

He laughed and said yes. I told him then he is officially a New York Latino.

I then congratulated Juan once again and told him we look forward to presenting our award to him at Citi Field whenever the Mets provide us with a date.

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