Washington Nationals star Juan Soto has been the talk of the MLB after he rejected a 15-year, $440 million contract offer from the club, essentially moving the team to begin trade discussions. It was no different ahead of Monday night's Home Run Derby, which Soto is a part of. Soto, who was spending a lot of time with St. Louis Cardinals legend Albert Pujols, conducted an interview alongside the future Hall of Famer.

Pujols showered Soto with Hall of Fame praise, saying that the Nationals star will be there “if he stays healthy.” Soto had a heartfelt reaction to Pujols' comments, per Billy Heyen on Twitter.

Juan Soto said that Albert Pujols was “going to make him cry.” It had to be emotional for Soto to hear the Cardinals legend, who practically already has a spot reserved in the Hall of Fame, tell him that he could be there too one day.

Of course, Pujols could also be doing a little old-fashioned recruiting for the Cardinals, who could certainly be in play for a Soto trade with the Nationals.

However, above all, Pujols was just paying respect to perhaps the next face of baseball in Soto. It's not hard to see why the Cardinals star sees Hall of Fame potential in the Nationals slugger.

After all, Soto is on a path that very few have approached in MLB history, as he is on level footing with one of the greatest hitters to ever swing a bat.

If he stays healthy, Juan Soto could get to where Albert Pujols is one day.