"Derek Jeter of Latin American players" - Royals scout makes feelings known about Juan Soto's professionalism and character

As the hottest free agent of this offseason, Juan Soto is expected to receive a massive contract, having becme a free agent for the first time since his MLB debut in 2018. Veteran baseball scout Johnny DiPuglia drew comparisons of the left-handed slugger with New York Yankees Hall of Famer Derek Jeter for the manner in which he conducts himself both on and off the field.

DiPuglia was responsible for bringing Juan Soto from his native Dominican Republic to the Washington Nationals as a 16-year-old in 2015, while serving as the Nationals' international scouting director.

On Monday, DiPuglia told baseball journalist Rob Bradford for the Baseball Doesn't Exist channel on YouTube about Soto:

"If you're going to start a corporation, you want a guy that represents that corporation in a very professional way. I've always thought of Juan as the Derek Jeter of Latin American players. The way he dresses, the way he conducts himself, the way he speaks English. He's like a marine.

"And if you want to have a high-priced guy to mold your younger players, to be that like him," DiPuglia added. "He's the guy you want to represent your organization."

Juan Soto played four and a half seasons for the Washington Nationals, winning a World Series ring in 2019.

He was traded to the San Diego Padres in the middle of the 2021 season and spent 18 months in southern California. Soto joined the New York Yankees on a one-year $31 million trade before becoming a free agent at the end of the season.

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"I'm the one that introduced him": Johnny DiPuglia on relationship between Juan Soto and David Ortiz

The Red Sox have shown a great deal of interest in signing Juan Soto this offseason. (Photo Credit: Imagn)

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly one of the big-market teams strongly interested in signing Juan Soto this year.

Red Sox legend David Ortiz, known to share a close bond with the free agent, is rumored to be doing his part to help bring his compatriot to Fenway Park next year. He said:

"The relationship that David has with Soto was started by me," he said. "I am the one that introduced him."

DiPuglia also shared his experience of scouting Juan Soto from the Dominican Republic as a teenager.

"If you don't have a relationship with the buscones down there, you're going to buy cubic zirconium consistently," he said. "You're not going to get a real diamond. There's a lot of fake product down there. If you're not connected, you can get bad goods."

The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees are eager to acquire Soto during this offseason, but the New York Mets are considered the favorites to land the 26-year-old outfielder.