Juan Soto is a New York Met, a $765 million asset, and a generational talent who walks as often as he breathes. But if you want to know why he’s currently in a batting cage in Santo Domingo instead of a mansion in the Hamptons, you have to look at the dirt. Specifically, the red clay of the Dominican Republic.
He is "La Fiera." The Beast.
Growing up in the tough neighborhood of Herrera, Soto wasn't allowed to play outside as much as he wanted. His mother, Belkis Pacheco, kept a tight leash on him to keep him safe. So, Juan got creative. He’d crumple up pieces of paper, wrap them in tape, and swing at them with a stick in the hallway of his home.
He basically invented his own version of "hallway baseball" before he ever stepped onto a professional diamond.
Juan Soto: Dominican Republic Roots and the "Crazy" Coach
Most people think Soto was a born hitter. That’s a lie. Honestly, when he was 14, he was a pitcher. And according to his former coach Rafael Zapata, he wasn't a very good one.
Zapata—affectionately known as "Papé" in the Dominican—saw something else. He saw a kid who had "money in his bat." Zapata gathered his other coaches and told them he was moving Soto to the outfield to focus on hitting. They called him crazy. They said the kid couldn't run. They said he couldn't hit.
They were wrong.
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Soto’s father, Juan Sr., used to throw him bottle caps to sharpen his hand-eye coordination. It worked. By the time the Washington Nationals found him at 16, that weird bottle-cap-trained swing was worth a $1.5 million signing bonus. It’s the same swing that just landed him the largest contract in professional sports history—a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets that makes Shohei Ohtani’s deferral-heavy contract look like a payday loan.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic Commitment
You've likely heard the rumors about whether superstars will actually play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). For Soto, there is no debate.
He didn't wait for a formal invite from the Dominican Baseball Federation. He called them.
"Everyone already knows that answer... we are ready," Soto said recently during the Juan Marichal Award ceremony in Santo Domingo. He’s already been named an ambassador for Banreservas and is working closely with manager Albert Pujols to build a "Dream Team" roster.
The Dominican Republic is Pool D's heavy favorite for a reason. With Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (who just signed a $500 million extension himself), the lineup is basically a video game.
Soto’s commitment is deeply personal. In 2023, he played through physical discomfort just to wear the "Dominicana" jersey. He sees it as a debt. He grew up idolizing Manny Ramirez and Robinson Canó—his friends even called him "Little Robbie"—and now he’s the one providing the equipment.
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Giving Back to the Island
In late 2025, Soto made a surprise appearance at the Mets Academy in the Dominican Republic. He didn't just show up for a photo op. He brought enough equipment for 40 local youth teams.
It’s about the infrastructure.
While Julio Rodríguez is building modern complexes in Loma de Cabrera, Soto focuses on the "Amazin' Mets Foundation" initiatives that target the grassroots. He remembers being the kid with the taped-up paper ball.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Soto Shuffle
People think the "Soto Shuffle" is just arrogance. It’s actually a psychological tool developed in the Dominican winter leagues and refined in the MLB. It’s about balance and timing.
When Soto dances in the box, he's resetting his feet and letting the pitcher know he’s won the mental battle. It’s a very Dominican style of play—loud, confident, and technically perfect.
Interestingly, Soto is naturally right-handed. His father suggested he switch to the left side of the plate as a child to gain a competitive advantage. That one suggestion, made on a dusty field in Santo Domingo, effectively shifted the economy of Major League Baseball twenty years later.
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2026 Outlook and Beyond
Right now, Soto is preparing for the 2026 MLB season with the Mets, but his heart is clearly split. He’s been training with Tigres del Licey, though his 10-game winter league stint was cut short when the team failed to make the playoffs this January.
The Mets gave him permission to play 10 games in LIDOM (the Dominican Winter League) every year of his contract. That’s a rare concession for a $700-million-plus athlete. It shows how much the Mets organization understands that for Juan Soto, the Dominican Republic isn't just a home—it’s his laboratory.
If you’re following his career, keep an eye on these specific developments:
- WBC Pool D: March 6–11 in Miami. This is where Soto plans to "relive the experience" of representing his country.
- Contract Milestones: His $765 million deal has an opt-out after 2029. If the market continues to explode, he could actually enter free agency again at age 31.
- LIDOM Participation: Expect him to suit up for Tigres del Licey in the 2026-2027 winter season to stay sharp.
The reality of Juan Soto is that he never really left the hallway in Herrera. He just found a bigger stick and a much more expensive ball.
To keep up with Soto’s impact on Dominican youth baseball, watch the Amazin’ Mets Foundation updates or follow the Federación Dominicana de Béisbol (FEDOBE) for official 2026 WBC roster movements. If you're a collector, look for his early "international signing" memorabilia; the value of his 2015-era Dominican prospect cards has spiked 40% since the Mets signing.