Juan Soto doesn’t need a cape or a mask to look like a superhero on the field. But in MLB’s new “Heroes of the Game” campaign, he gets the full anime treatment—and looks every bit the part.
As part of the league’s 2025 brand campaign, MLB is spotlighting some of its biggest names by turning them into full-fledged anime characters. The campaign, animated by renowned Japanese director Hiroshi Shimizu (One Piece, Fullmetal Alchemist), features Soto alongside Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Paul Skenes, reimagined through hand-drawn animation.
In his hero film, Soto is portrayed as the type of player who “sees all and can change the game with just one swing”—a nod to his uncanny eye at the plate and raw power. It’s a role the newly minted Met embraces. “I feel blessed with that ability, I really do,” Soto says. “To be able to change the game with one swing… It’s a blessing God gave me.”
The campaign drops at a time when baseball is leaning all the way into its international and cultural crossover appeal. Fresh off the Tokyo Series and with anime continuing to surge in popularity across the globe, “Heroes of the Game” is a natural next step in MLB’s global outreach.
For Soto, being part of it isn’t just a cool look—it’s validation. “It’s huge for me to be considered one of the big boys of the game,” he says. “I’m really happy and excited to be part of it.”
Off the field, Soto says his pregame vibe changes with his mood—sometimes it's Rock music, sometimes something mellow—but his game-day focus doesn’t waver. “To win a World Series, that’s the main goal. That’s the mindset since day one.”
Now, with his own anime arc and a new chapter in Queens, Soto’s mission is simple: hit bombs, shift momentum, and cement his place among the true heroes of the game.