Juan Soto is inarguably one of the best young talents in Major League Baseball. Given his hitting skills, young age, and most importantly his hunger to excel in every game he plays, Soto has everything that can make him one of the baseball greats in the coming times.

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However, apart from his playing skills, the Washington Nationals star has some extra skills that many people might not be aware of. Yes, recently, Juan Soto revealed how he helped the Nationals to sign Nelson Cruz.

Notably, the Washington Nationals landed the 41-year-old Cruz in the current free agency. Nelson Cruz is a universal DH (designated hitter).

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Juan Soto convinced Nelson Cruz to sign for the Washington Nationals

Just like Juan Soto, Nelson Cruz also hails from the Dominican Republic. And this common connection between the two stars was key to getting Nelson Cruz to the Washington Nationals. Recently, while talking to MLB.com, Soto revealed that the Nationals management made him call the veteran hitter.

Nelson Cruz smashes a home run for the Tampa Bay Rays

USA Today via Reuters

Soto confirmed that he started talking with Cruz. And because they belong from the same place, and a good team at the Nationals, he was able to convince him to sign for the Washington franchise.

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“I was talking with him, they made me call him and everything,” said Juan Soto. “I just started talking with him. We all come from the Dominican and all. This is a good team, a good recognition station. It was one of the things I think he would like.”

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Read more: “I’ve Never Seen Anything Like It”- Minnesota Twins Executive Reveals the Inside Story of Pulling off Carlos Correa’s Deal

Notably, the veteran slugger ended up signing for the Nationals. As per ESPN, he signed a one-year deal worth $15 million with the Nationals. As of now, Nelson Cruz has played for various MLB teams including, Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, and Minnesota Twins among others.

In his 17 years long career, Cruz has hit a total of 449 home runs. In the 2021 season, he became the oldest player to hit over 30 home runs to hit in a season.

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WATCH THIS STORY: Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, And More- Big MLB Shortstops’ New Homes And Contract Details

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Abhishek Kumar

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Abhishek Kumar is a Newsroom Editor at EssentiallySports with over three years of editorial experience across multiple sports. He joined as a Yankees beat reporter during the 2022 MLB season before quickly rising to lead editorial and content strategy for the MLB division. His deep knowledge of baseball, combined with expertise across the NFL, NBA, Tennis, and Soccer, has shaped him into one of ES’s versatile newsroom leaders. Beyond reporting, Abhishek played a key role in pioneering initiatives at ES, including leading the homepage content execution during its 2024 relaunch and producing the ES Think Tank podcast series, where industry experts dissect the business side of sports. A Communication graduate, he blends journalistic fundamentals with digital-first strategy, ensuring ES stories are both authoritative and reader-first. Away from the desk, Abhishek is equally passionate about cooking experiments and rewatching Christopher Nolan classics.

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Vibhanshu Kumar