Rafael Soriano
Encyclopedia
Rafael Soriano is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
for the New York Yankees
. He bats and throws right-handed. Soriano throws a moving fastball
in the mid to upper 90s, which has been known to reach triple digits, along with a slider
and scarcely used changeup
.
in 1996. He was signed as an outfielder
before being converted to a pitcher
. He made his Major League debut with the Mariners on May 5, 2002. After an effective 2003 season, Soriano suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament
in his right elbow, and underwent Tommy John surgery
on August 17, 2004. He would return to the Majors on September 10, . Soriano suffered a concussion on August 29, , after being struck behind the ear by a line drive hit from Angel
s slugger Vladimir Guerrero
. He was released from the hospital the following afternoon.
from the Mariners on December 7, 2006, in exchange for left-handed
pitcher Horacio Ramírez
. In an offseason article, ESPN
explained why they believed that Soriano was a significantly better player than Ramirez. Soriano had a mixed bag of success and disappointment in his first season in Atlanta, primarily serving as the setup man to closer
Bob Wickman
. Soriano became the Braves closer after Wickman was designated for assignment in August. He earned his first save since May 10 on August 30.
Soriano was suspended for four games on September 20 after hitting Dan Uggla
with a pitch. The suspension was reduced to two games after appeal. He finished his first season as a Brave with a 3–3 record and 3.00 ERA
. Soriano signed a two-year contract with the Braves worth $9 million USD on January 24, 2008.
After surprising the Braves and accepting arbitration, Soriano was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays
on December 10, 2009 for Jesse Chavez
.
and Trevor Hoffman
as the only three-time winners of the monthly award. He was named to the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
to replace an injured Mariano Rivera
. On August 23, 2010, in a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
, Soriano became just the 15th American League pitcher in the modern era (since 1900) to pitch an immaculate inning (strike out the side on nine pitches) and only the 6th pitcher in all of baseball to record a save while doing so. Soriano led the American League in saves at the end of the 2010 season. Soriano finished 8th in the 2010 AL Cy Young Voting.
. He picked up his first save as a Yankee against the Blue Jays
on April 20. He recorded his first loss, and gave up the tying and winning runs as a Yankee on April 26. On July 30th, Soriano pitched his first game since coming off the DL, throwing a scoreless 9th inning, striking out 2 in a 17-3 blowout win vs. the Baltimore Orioles.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He bats and throws right-handed. Soriano throws a moving fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
in the mid to upper 90s, which has been known to reach triple digits, along with a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
and scarcely used changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
.
Seattle Mariners
Soriano was signed as an amateur free agent by the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in 1996. He was signed as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
before being converted to a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He made his Major League debut with the Mariners on May 5, 2002. After an effective 2003 season, Soriano suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament
Ulnar collateral ligament
Ulnar collateral ligament can refer to:* Ulnar collateral ligament * Ulnar collateral ligament * Ulnar collateral ligament...
in his right elbow, and underwent Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
on August 17, 2004. He would return to the Majors on September 10, . Soriano suffered a concussion on August 29, , after being struck behind the ear by a line drive hit from Angel
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
s slugger Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Alvino Guerrero is a free agent Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter.In , he was voted the American League MVP...
. He was released from the hospital the following afternoon.
Atlanta Braves
Soriano was traded to the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
from the Mariners on December 7, 2006, in exchange for left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
pitcher Horacio Ramírez
Horacio Ramírez
Horacio Ramírez is a Major League Baseball pitcher. His parents emigrated from Jalostotitlan, Jalisco, Mexico.-Career:...
. In an offseason article, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
explained why they believed that Soriano was a significantly better player than Ramirez. Soriano had a mixed bag of success and disappointment in his first season in Atlanta, primarily serving as the setup man to closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
Bob Wickman
Bob Wickman
Robert Joe Wickman is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wickman played for the New York Yankees , Milwaukee Brewers , Cleveland Indians , Atlanta Braves , and Arizona Diamondbacks . He batted and threw right-handed...
. Soriano became the Braves closer after Wickman was designated for assignment in August. He earned his first save since May 10 on August 30.
Soriano was suspended for four games on September 20 after hitting Dan Uggla
Dan Uggla
Daniel Cooley Uggla is an American professional baseball second baseman with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball....
with a pitch. The suspension was reduced to two games after appeal. He finished his first season as a Brave with a 3–3 record and 3.00 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. Soriano signed a two-year contract with the Braves worth $9 million USD on January 24, 2008.
After surprising the Braves and accepting arbitration, Soriano was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
on December 10, 2009 for Jesse Chavez
Jesse Chavez
Jesse David Chavez is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed....
.
Tampa Bay Rays
Soriano won the DHL Delivery Man Award for May 2010, and July 2010, becoming the first pitcher to earn that honor twice in one season. He won the award a third time for August 2010, joining Joe NathanJoe Nathan
Joseph Michael Nathan is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball . Nathan started out his baseball career as a shortstop in high school but converted to a pitcher after being drafted by the San Francisco Giants...
and Trevor Hoffman
Trevor Hoffman
Trevor William Hoffman is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During his 18-year career from 1993 to 2010, he pitched for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers, spending years of his career with the Padres. A long-time closer, he is the Major...
as the only three-time winners of the monthly award. He was named to the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 81st midseason exhibition between the All-Stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
to replace an injured Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian right-handed baseball pitcher who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Mo", Rivera has served as a relief pitcher for most of his career, and since 1997, he has been the Yankees' closer...
. On August 23, 2010, in a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, Soriano became just the 15th American League pitcher in the modern era (since 1900) to pitch an immaculate inning (strike out the side on nine pitches) and only the 6th pitcher in all of baseball to record a save while doing so. Soriano led the American League in saves at the end of the 2010 season. Soriano finished 8th in the 2010 AL Cy Young Voting.
New York Yankees
The Yankees signed Soriano to a three-year, $35 million contract on January 18, 2011. Soriano was originally designated as the set-up pitcher to closer Mariano RiveraMariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian right-handed baseball pitcher who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Mo", Rivera has served as a relief pitcher for most of his career, and since 1997, he has been the Yankees' closer...
. He picked up his first save as a Yankee against the Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
on April 20. He recorded his first loss, and gave up the tying and winning runs as a Yankee on April 26. On July 30th, Soriano pitched his first game since coming off the DL, throwing a scoreless 9th inning, striking out 2 in a 17-3 blowout win vs. the Baltimore Orioles.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders
- Major League Baseball pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches