FLUSHING, NY — Juan Soto’s done it all over his first nine years in the pros.
Debuting in 2018 at the age of 19 and becoming Juan of Juan ever since—a three-time LatinoMVP Award winner and the highest-paid player in all of sports when it comes to total monetary contract value ($765 million/15-years with the Mets)—the Dominican superstar, now at the age of 27, has proven time-in and time-out to be that generational talent the entire sports world and industry views him as.
Not just between the foul lines as one of the best players in the game, making his way to Cooperstown when it’s all said and done, while Soto Shuffling at the plate before then and enjoying all what the sport has to offer, but also on an influential level tying back to his homeland.
Like those he looked up to as a kid growing up in the Dominican Republic such as Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, and Albert Pujols, Juan Soto will be joining them decades from now in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York – Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
Hailing from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Soto was recently named to Forbes Dominican Republic’s 30 Under 30 list, highlighting the most notable and iconic Dominican leaders across global and local industries, who each range under the age of 30.
The purpose of Forbes Dominican Republic’s 30 Under 30 list is to shine light and showcase a generation of Dominicans that are “transforming ideas into businesses, research projects, social initiatives, and solutions with tangible impact,” according to Joan Sebastian of Forbes.
“To be included on the list, financial success, leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, long-term potential and, above all, the ability to transform their environment or challenge the status quo of their industry are evaluated.”
Forbes Dominican Republic received 130 applications from young people in various productive sectors, a number that demonstrates the interest of a new generation in showcasing projects with the potential to transform industries, communities, and markets – Image Credit: Forbes
A six-time Silver Slugger, five-time All-Star, 2020 National League batting champion and 2019 World Series champ with the Nationals, Soto, joins a Forbes D.R. 30 Under 30 list that includes Olympic and world champion track-and-field star Marileidy Paulino, comedian and Saturday Night Live cast member Marcello Hernández and singer, actress, and content creator Chelsy Bautista José, among 26 others more than deserving of the honor.
“It’s really exciting. Coming from the Dominican Republic and seeing so many people make an impact, it makes you really proud of what you’ve been doing,” Soto said of being named to Forbes Dominican Republic’s 30 Under 30 List.
“You know, seeing so much young Dominican talent and them coming up in the world, showing themselves and proving that it doesn’t matter where we’re coming from, we can still show up and be great, it’s really cool for me.”
Juan Soto, a three-time LatinoMVP and global icon of Dominican talent, established himself as one of the leading figures in Major League Baseball thanks to his consistent offense and discipline at the plate since his debut in 2018 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Juan of Juan on and off the diamond in serving as a role model for the next generation out of his homeland, Soto, with a strong family and support system, had to fight for everything he’s earned. A similar fight to what millions of Dominican boys and girls younger than him—some who already are on their way in stamping a mark in their respective sport/industry—are battling through now in attempting to support themselves and their families.
During Soto’s introductory Mets press conference back in December of 2024, inking a historic industry-shaking deal, he had mentioned this and more on his desire in being able to help fight through battles with the youth in need in New York as well as his native Dominican Republic:
“The first thing that came to my mind, I gotta try to help a lot of people. Back in New York, there’s a lot of kids that have talent, and they can have a bright future but they don’t have the support. I feel like when you sign a contract like that, that’s the first thing it brings in mind—to help the community, and try to help everybody around my country, and try to create more chances (and) more opportunities for the people to grow and keep moving forward.”
Juan Soto and his family during his introductory Mets press conference back in December of 2024 days after Soto had signed the largest contract in all of sports history at $765 million over 15 years with the Mets – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Moving forward like Soto had planned to in and out of ballparks, however he did not expect or have this in mind during the process—being 1 of 30 named to Forbes Dominican Republic’s 30-Under-30 List.
“You know, as humbling as we can take it, it’s always great to be mentioned in those types of things,” Soto said. “And with the list, there’s so many great people and great human beings that are trying to make the Dominican Republic better by helping the young communities and building better stuff for our cities and country.”
Latino Sports recently had the chance to speak with Juan Soto to ask him about being named to Forbes Dominican Republic’s 30 Under 30 List, the pride in seeing fellow Dominicans succeed and the honor of soon receiving his third-career LatinoMVP Award – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
A place Soto considers his second home, New York, will have the opportunity to honor and celebrate him at Citi Field next month with a date still to be determined as Latino Sports presents Soto with his third-career LatinoMVP, winning the prestigious award in 2025 (NL), 2024 (AL) and 2021 (NL).
“It’s going to be great, I can’t wait. It’s unbelievable how the time goes by and to get recognized by the Latino community for the third time, it’s really exciting for me,” he said of his excitement for a potential pregame on-the-field ceremony where Soto will be presented his special 2025 NL LatinoMVP Award by Latino Sports president and founder Julio Pabón and nationally acclaimed artist James Fiorentino, the exclusive artist for each of the yearly NL and AL LatinoMVP Awards.
“It’s been a lot of hard work with what we’ve been going through, a lot of those tough times going through ups and downs and actually being able to do what we’ve been doing, it’s really nice to see. For the future of the Dominican Republic too since I know every time we do stuff like this, we open doors for younger guys that are coming after us, so it’s really exciting.”
Juan Soto presented with his 2021 National League LatinoMVP Award from Latino Sports president and founder Julio Pabón at Petco Park in San Diego weeks after he was traded from the Nationals in August of 2022 – Image Credit: Latino Sports
With two LatinoMVP Awards already hung up at his house and a third on the way, Soto may be changing the layout on his walls sooner than later—like his idol Albert Pujols went through over his legendary MLB career—earning a record-total of nine LatinoMVPs.
“That’s one of the things I want to do with my time, take as much as I can from this game,” he said.
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