A Peligro Sports employee named Randy Rodriguez wore a shy smile. Recently, standing before a display of hats in a Washington Heights sports shop, he confessed that he was discontinuing his usual practice. Yankees . Never mind that the team has won 27 championships, made it to the World Series last year, and are betting-odds favorites to return this season (despite a raft of injuries), Rodriguez was terminating his fandom. With the aid of a fellow employee translating, he said he was making a switch long unthinkable in New York: to the Mets.
,Or at the very least, he was quite certain about it. "Ochenta y cinco por ciento, que sÃ," he stated—indicating an 85 percent confidence level. Indeed, sticking to one's stance can be challenging, particularly with colleagues continually asserting that his presence would usher in unfortunate outcomes for the new group. However, throughout Washington Heights and further afield, numerous individuals from the overmentioned community found themselves grappling with this situation. 1.2 million residents With their origins tracing back to the Dominican Republic, these individuals are opting for the same change, swapping pinstripes for orange and blue.
,The sole cause behind this fan departure: Juan Soto and his unprecedented $765 million deal over 15 years. As one of Major League Baseball’s premier Dominican players, Soto played in the Bronx throughout 2024 but opted in December to move his skills to Queens instead.
,At Peligro, a longstanding local baseball haven that serves fans of both Major League Baseball and the Dominican Professional Baseball League, Yankees merchandise outpaced Mets items with an 80-to-20 ratio last year, according to Freddy Peña, who has managed the store for many years. Following Soto’s signing, this trend has shifted dramatically to a new 70-to-30 preference towards Mets products. "It felt like flipping a switch; Oh, we were selling New York Yankees merchandise. ", and now it’s all about the Mets, the Mets, the Mets," Peña stated.
,Next to RodrÃguez, two complete racks of Yankees jerseys hung alongside limited stocks of blue Mets Soto jerseys. Earlier, Peligro had over ten types of Yankees caps available but only a few Mets caps. However, according to store owner José Mateo, his Mets cap section will soon be updated to mirror the selection for Yankees fans. This update will include a cap featuring the Dominican flag along with Soto’s name and number 22 embroidered next to the Mets' curly "NY" emblem.
,Fans from the Dominican Republic in the U.S. often rally behind individual hometown stars rather than supporting specific teams, changing allegiances as their preferred athletes switch clubs. Mateo, who moved from the D.R. at age 17, stated that although certain Dominican supporters in New York passionately back either the Yankees or the Mets, many align themselves based on key players instead. They become even more devoted when these players achieve stardom. "A big-name player such as Soto attracts a lot of followers," noted Mateo.
,For instance, Rodriguez was an avid supporter of the St. Louis Cardinals during the time when Santo Domingo’s own Albert Pujols was part of the team. Once Pujols left for the less successful Los Angeles Angels, Rodriguez switched allegiances between teams based on which prominent Dominican player caught his attention at the moment. However, when the New York Yankees acquired Soto, this shifted his loyalty to the Bronx Bombers. "Soto really put the Yankees on the map last season for Dominican baseball enthusiasts right here at Yankee Stadium," noted Mateo.
,This was a significant event. Despite boasting numerous championship titles, the team had failed to secure dominance over New York City’s passionate baseball fanbase—particularly those located in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium and upper Manhattan, which is within easy throwing distance from the stadium. The Yankees hadn’t previously possessed a Dominican superstar who could attract large numbers of spectators until Soto joined the roster. Even Alex Rodriguez, with his potential for such status, didn’t quite fit due to being largely rejected by Dominican supporters following his decision to play for Team USA instead of representing the Dominican Republic during the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
,“Many Dominicans have never really been big fans of the Yankees,” Mateo stated.
,In 2022, when City Council member Carmen De La Rosa assumed office, she made history as the inaugural Dominican female representative for Washington Heights and Inwood. During her tenure, she has witnessed firsthand the effects of Soto’s signature initiatives within her constituency—though she wishes to clarify that she remains steadfastly loyal to the Mets despite her father switching his allegiance some time back to root for Boston due to their roster of Dominican players headed by ace pitcher Pedro MartÃnez ("I couldn’t go along with that," she stated). According to De La Rosa, failing to sign Soto was a lost chance for the Yankees to gain significant backing from New York’s Dominican populace.
,Perhaps it isn’t factored into the Yankees' overall plan just yet, but it ought to be," she stated. "For Dominicans, we add that zest and enthusiasm.
,Following the Red Sox trade for MartÃnez before the 1998 season, Dominican supporters flocked to Fenway Park whenever he took the mound, transforming the historic stadium into a vibrant celebration. Similarly, with Soto joining the team, people such as De La Rosa anticipate that the energy at Citi Field will also intensify.
,"Definitely, it will become lively, noisy, and full of celebration," she stated.
,“It’s going to be ‘really, really loud,’” repeated Mateo.
,The previous year, the Mets experienced an unexpectedly positive atmosphere, which propelled them to a surprising spot in the National League Championship Series, largely aided by Grimace and the singing and fielding skills of Jose Iglesias, a journeyman shortstop and pop star whose song, “ OMG, won over the Mets fans and the Latin-pop world similarly. However, the team decided not to reinstate Igleseras for this season, and everyone understands the dangers of returning to McDonald’s too soon. The surge of supporters and enthusiasm sparked by Soto’s addition should provide the ‘25 roster an opportunity to develop its distinct character — one just as dynamic but maybe not as violet.
,Of course, it’s typical for fans to connect with professional athletes who have similar backgrounds. However, considering that nearly every Major League team nowadays features Dominican players—often including star talent—the degree to which Dominican supporters switch teams alongside their preferred players stands out as distinctive. For instance, when the Mets acquired Mike Piazza, his popularity didn’t include an association with Little Italy.
,Ramona Hernández, who serves as a sociology professor and directs the Dominican Studies Institute at the City University of New York, stated la pelota Has long held a prominent place in Dominican culture and has even greater significance today, as it is frequently seen as an avenue to escape poverty. Certain fans relate their own aspirations or those close to them with the athletes who achieve stardom; others simply experience a sense of pride.
,“Regardless of our size, we remain a relatively minor faction within the nation,” Hernández stated. “That sense of being part of a smaller community fosters an urge to bond with what’s familiar and shares this shared heritage.”
,The fact that Soto signed the biggest contract in baseball history has been a significant source of pride. "I believe this had a strong impact on Dominicans," she stated. "This unassuming youth elevated the reputation of the Dominican people through his achievement."
,In last season, as per the records, 142 players who were born in the Dominican Republic participated in Major League Baseball. Baseball Almanac By far, this figure surpasses those from any nation aside from the United States. Back in 1980, however, the count stood at merely 30 individuals. This number increased to 52 by 1990, reached 104 ten years later, and climbed further to 126 by 2010. Prior to that point, only one individual from the Dominican Republic held a place in their respective Hall of Fame: pitcher Juan Marichal, active between 1960 and 1975. Despite his dedicated fan base, it wasn’t until the significant surge in participation during the latter part of the '90s and early 2000s—a period marked by an influx of exceptional talent—that Dominicans truly embraced supporting these athletes en masse.
,Hernández mentioned that she recently stumbled upon an old photo of herself taken in 1978, during her time at Lehman College in the Bronx. She realized she had been sporting a Yankees cap back then. However, after the Red Sox acquired MartÃnez, that "NY" emblem on her hat changed into a red "B."
,“MartÃnez was there, are you serious? No way,” she said.
,Likewise, Led Black, a community activist from Washington Heights and the founder of The Uptown Collective The blogger mentioned that his dad was a dedicated Yankees supporter up until the opposing Red Sox team gained prominence due to their roster of exceptional Dominican players: including not only Pedro MartÃnez but also David Ortiz and Manny RamÃrez from Washington Heights.
,At the peak of the Red Sox–Yankees rivalry, Washington Heights gained recognition as a hub for Red Sox supporters within the city. "There was considerable opposition. It was quite evident at the barber shop," Black stated. "I believe their allegiance to Dominican identity overshadowed much of this."
,As Boston's star players eventually retired, many Dominican baseball enthusiasts in New York shifted their support elsewhere, although some loyalists still back the Red Sox. According to Mateo, numerous ex-Sox supporters, unable to fully embrace becoming part of the Yankees' so-called "Evil Empire" – despite Soto's influence – will likely find themselves freer to root for the Mets instead.
,In his shop, he indicated an employee who had recently changed allegiance from the Red Sox to the Mets after declining to have anything to do with the despised Yankees.
,The Mets do not have a stronger hold on their Dominican supporters' ongoing support compared to any other team. However, should Soto excel and fulfill his entire 15-year deal in Queens, this extended period could be enough to cultivate devotion among fans. It's possible that certain devotees might remain loyal to the Mets even when public interest shifts towards another emerging star, similar to what occurred with the Red Sox. Additionally, the Mets might recognize the importance of continuously signing Dominican talents—and drawing in Dominican followers—given their location near what can be considered the Dominican Republic’s de facto U.S. hub.
,Despite Dominicans becoming increasingly integrated into both American society and Major League Baseball, there’s minimal indication that this strong allegiance to specific players will diminish. Hernández mentioned that with the second and third generations of Dominicans in the U.S. surpassing the immigrant population, she has noticed an increased focus on maintaining Dominican cultural heritage.
,There is an awareness, a recognition, and a growing sense of consciousness regarding, If we fail to highlight our identity and don't share it with others, it might vanish. She stated, "I believe that necessitates an increased expression of the culture compared to what was needed before."
,Moreover, as she highlighted, baseball is integral to Dominican culture.
,As a sociologist and baseball fan, Hernández said she will not miss the chance to observe the Juan Soto phenomenon firsthand at Citi Field.
,People will flock just to see him," she stated. "And I'm definitely one of them!
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