Juan Soto was just 19, fresh in Hagerstown, Maryland, and looking for a GameStop to fix his PlayStation. This is what Brian Campbell recalls about Juan Soto, the man who now has broken records and clinched not just baseball’s most expensive contract: $765 million! At that time, the Dominican player was not looking for fame or fortune—he simply wanted to play baseball.
Now seven years later, his resume is stacked full of accolades. But Soto is still the same guy that Campbell met in 2018. And if there is anyone who really knows Soto before his ‘wow era,’ it is Brian Campbell. He and his family, after all, hosted the outfielder for some time in the minors. And of those three short weeks in the Campbell home, Soto recollects: “I know it was a short time, but we had so much fun every single day in that house.”
The warm camaraderie goes both ways. Recently, Campbell burst everyone’s bubble of what Soto is really like. Now, according to the oft-repeated narrative, the Dominican’s huge contract and the fact that he rejected the pinstripes while demanding way too many perks from the Mets made Soto seem like an arrogant person. Not to mention, the comment about New York being a Mets town didn’t help, either. But it turns out he is not the person everyone thinks.
Brian Campbell, when confronted about the ‘arrogant’ part of Soto, said to The NYT, “Nope. He’s just Soto.” If there is one thing Campbell is sure of, it’s that Soto has always been humble. And by just Soto, it meant coming home after the games. He would head right to the basement, play cards and video games, and even sing along with Campbell’s kids.
It was a time when Campbell and Juan Soto were bonding over late-night talks, laughing over anything and everything. It was about finding the little things fun and joyful. Soto himself lit up when he talking about the days gone by: “It’s a big family, a really lovely family that welcomed us like we were their kids.” Well, he sure doesn’t sound like a guy who has an ego problem!
Campbell has seen Soto’s journey to fame firsthand. From his batting practices early on to the moment he was surrounded by fans in Fredericksburg. But what Campbell remembers is his embracing personality: “He’s fun to hang out with. He’s charismatic. You’re drawn to him. He’s just a good guy.” The funny thing is, with the kinds of changes that baseball programs have undergone of late, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that Soto’s journey would look completely different had he started out today.
Juan Soto’s journey shows what baseball lost along the way
Things are no longer the same. Like many other changes in baseball, even host family programs have changed. To put things into perspective, they no longer exist – flat out. The MLB restructured the minor league system in a bid to ensure improved player salaries. And while it was a great step in improving the contemporary player conditions, they sure lost a valuable thing in the process.
In 2018, Juan Soto, the now New York Mets star shared Campbell’s home with other Latin American players. He was even put up with 27-year-old Adderling Ruiz, a Dominican catcher, who mentored Soto. This kind of environment is where young players really thrive since it helps them transition to professional baseball better. And having a family sense in a foreign land always helps. The Suns’ former director of promotions said, “That’s what was important about the host family situation. It gave that family feeling to some of these younger players.” Unfortunately, it no longer exists.
MLB 2023’s CBA did improve salaries, increasing the minimum annual pay for Low A players from $26,200—up from $6,000 to $8,000. It also brought in housing and eliminated the need for host families – like Campbell’s, for whom, it wasn’t about just providing a room but giving young players a place to belong, even away from their home.
For the Campbells, the basement is a spot where music, laughter, and card games echo. Now it’s just another room. But for Soto and Campbell, those memories will always remain in their minds and hearts. Don’t you agree?
The post Juan Soto’s Childhood Friend Fiercely Slams “Arrogant” Accusations as He Opens Up With Heartfelt Revelations appeared first on EssentiallySports.
