Former Major League Baseball legend Jose Bautista has backed two of his compatriots to become massive superstars in the sport.
The 41-year-old knows what it takes to be successful in professional baseball having been chosen as an All-Star on six occasions during his time with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Bautista also represented the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic and helped his country win the bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games.
The ex-Blue Jays star still keeps a close eye on MLB, and has been following the progression of two players with particular interest.
Juan Soto and Julio Rodriguez are amongst a wave of rising stars in the sport, and both have been tipped for greatness by Bautista.
Soto’s recent move from the Washington Nationals to the San Diego Padres shocked many baseball pundits, but Bautista believes it will pay dividends.
“I just don’t see how he doesn’t get into the Hall of Fame already,” he said. “He’s had that good of a start to his career, and he’s on the path, for sure, to accomplish at least that.
“He might end up in the top 20 players of all time if he keeps going the way he’s going. Hopefully health stays in his corner and he can have a lengthy career where he can go in and out every year and do what he’s capable of doing.
“It was surprising to see the Nationals reboot that profoundly with all the trades they did last year, and all the ones that they’ve done this year.
“Being in that market, having deep enough pockets to just reset or reshuffle their deck, I didn’t think they were doing it to such an extent where they would consider getting rid of a franchise icon and cornerstone like Soto.”
Rodriguez is another hugely exciting prospect in MLB and has been widely tipped to scoop this season’s American League (AL) Rookie of the Year award.
He got off to a slow start with the Seattle Mariners, but quickly improved to become one of the most fearsome hitters in the game.
The 21-year-old played alongside Bautista at Tokyo 2020 and became just the sixth Mariner rookie to be chosen as an MLB All-Star in July.
Fans have been clamouring to watch him in action on sports streaming sites, highlighting just how much impact he has already made in baseball.
Bautista has kept a close eye on Rodriguez over the past couple of seasons and believes he has the ability to go to the very top of the sport.
“He’s a phenomenal kid and an even better baseball player,” he added. “To see him get the call up a little after the season had gotten underway was great.
Soto and Rodriguez may well be battling to be baseball’s biggest name over the next few years, with the sport in desperate need of an injection of new personalities.
Many of the current crop of older players have failed to embrace their role as ambassadors for the sport, but the Dominican Republic duo possess charisma in abundance.
Bautista is particularly excited by what Rodriguez brings to the table and has tipped his compatriot to be the face of baseball in the future.
“I’m just really excited to see what kind of impact he can have in the future within the game, within his organisation and where they are in the winning cycle right now,” said Bautista.
“I think he’s gonna have a stage to really show off and he’s off to a great start, and I hope that he continues to do what he’s been doing and hopefully stay away from high-and-in fastballs!”