Joakim Soria

Joakim Agustín Soria Ramos (born May 18, 1984) is a Mexican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland Athletics.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Soria and the second or maternal family name is Ramos.
Joakim Soria
Soria in his first stint pitching for the Royals
Free Agent
Pitcher
Born: (1984-05-18) May 18, 1984
Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 4, 2007, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record35–41
Earned run average3.01
Strikeouts791
Saves223
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Mexico
Central American and Caribbean Games
2006 Cartagena Team

Soria began his professional career in the Mexican League, before briefly playing in minor league baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres organizations. The Royals selected Soria from the Padres in the Rule 5 draft after the 2006 season, and he debuted with the Royals in 2007. Soria is a two-time MLB All-Star.

Career

Early career

Soria has played for his country's Diablos Rojos del México (in the Mexican Baseball League) and Yaquis de Obregón in the Winter League. He played for the Class-A Fort Wayne Wizards as well. On December 9, 2006, in the Mexican Winter League, Soria threw a perfect game against the Naranjeros de Hermosillo.[1]

Kansas City Royals

In 2006, Soria was drafted at the age of 22 by the Kansas City Royals in the Rule 5 draft out of the San Diego Padres organization in 2006.[2] He debuted for the Royals in the 2007 season, and had a record of 2–3 with 17 saves and an ERA of 2.48.

Soria opened the 2008 season with 13 straight saves, breaking Al Hrabosky's club record of 11.[2] He was scored on in just two of 35 outings.[2] He went 16​1⁄3 innings before giving up a run and in one stretch retired 24 straight batters.[2]

On May 17, 2008, Soria signed a 3-year, $8.75 million extension to his contract with the Royals, following his impressive performance as the team's closer in the first quarter of the season.[3]

Soria's fantastic start led to him being selected to play in the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[2] Soria was the Royals' lone representative in the All-Star Game.[2] He was the first Royals closing pitcher to be named an All-Star since Mike MacDougal in 2003.[2] He pitched ​1 2⁄3 innings, striking out the Florida Marlins' Dan Uggla and New York Mets' David Wright.[4][5]

Soria had injuries but he finished the 2009 year strong with a 3–2 record with 30 saves out of 33 chances.[6]

On May 26, 2010, Soria got his 100th save against the Texas Rangers.[7] Soria was picked for the 2010 All-Star Game, the second of his career. He finished the season with a 1.78 ERA and 43 saves in 46 opportunities.[8]

Soria struggled out of the gate in the 2011 season, blowing five of his first twelve save opportunities. After blowing saves on back to back days, Soria was replaced as closer by Aaron Crow on May 30.[9] After a couple of good relief appearances in a non-closer role, Yost announced on June 6 that Soria had earned the position back.[10]

On April 3, 2012, Soria underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a damaged UCL in his right elbow, causing him to miss the entire 2012 season.[11] The Royals declined his 2013 option on October 31, making him a free agent.[12]

Texas Rangers

On December 4, 2012, Soria signed a 2-year contract worth $8 million with the Texas Rangers with a club option for 2015.[13] He started the season on the 60-day disabled list as he was still recovering from surgery. He made his first appearance for Texas on July 7, 2013.[14] After former closer Joe Nathan signed with the Detroit Tigers in the offseason, Soria was named the new Rangers closer for the 2014 season.[15]

Soria pitching for the Texas Rangers

Detroit Tigers
Soria pitching for the Detroit Tigers

On July 23, 2014, the Texas Rangers traded Soria to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for pitchers Jake Thompson and Corey Knebel.[16][17] On July 22, 2015, Soria recorded his 200th career save.[18]

Pittsburgh Pirates

On July 30, 2015, the Tigers traded Soria to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for JaCoby Jones.[19]

Second stint with the Royals

On December 10, 2015, Soria signed a 3-year, $25 million contract to return to the Royals. [20]

Chicago White Sox

On January 4, 2018, Soria was traded to the Chicago White Sox in a three team trade that also sent Jake Peter and Scott Alexander to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Luis Avilán to the White Sox and Trevor Oaks and Erick Mejia to the Royals.[21]

Milwaukee Brewers

On July 26, 2018, Soria was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Kodi Medeiros and Wilber Pérez.[22] Soria declined his half of a mutual option for 2019 and became a free agent, on October 30, 2018.[23]

Oakland Athletics

On December 21, 2018, Soria signed a two-year contract with the Oakland Athletics.[24] On June 25, 2019, Soria pitched in his 674th Major League game, passing Dennys Reyes for the most by a Mexican-born pitcher.[25] In 2019 for the Athletics, Soria pitched to a 4.30 ERA over 69.0 innings pitched in 71 appearances, to go along with 79 strikeouts. In 2020 for Oakland, Soria made 22 appearances, pitching 22.1 innings of 2.82 ERA ball with 24 strikeouts.[26]

Pitch selection

Soria throws five pitches. He relies primarily on his fastball and cut fastball. Both pitches average about 90 miles per hour (140 km/h), with the fastball topping out near 94 miles per hour (151 km/h) and the cutter topping out around 93 miles per hour (150 km/h). He mixes in a slider in the low 80s, a slow curveball around 70 miles per hour (110 km/h), and an occasional changeup in the low- to mid-80s.[27]

Personal life

Soria has been nicknamed The Mexicutioner,[2] although in February 2011, he stated that he no longer wanted to be associated with that nickname due to violence in his home country.[28]

References
  1. "Joakim Soria se fue" (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. December 9, 2006. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  2. Kaegel, Dick. Soria heading to All-Star Game Archived July 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine MLB.com, July 6, 2008.
  3. Associated Press. ESPN – Royals pitcher Soria agrees to 3-year, $8.75M extension, ESPN.com, May 17, 2008.
  4. "Soria fitting right in with All-Star idols". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  5. "Soria duplicates idol's All-Star outing". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  6. "Joakim Soria Stats". ESPN. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  7. "Recap: Kansas City vs. Texas". USA Today. July 6, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  8. "Joakim Soria Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  9. Kaegel, Dick (May 30, 2011). "Aaron Crow will replace Joakim Soria as the Royals' closer". MLB.com. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  10. "Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals – Recap – June 06, 2011 – ESPN". Scores.espn.go.com. June 6, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  11. "Royals' Joakim Soria out for season". 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  12. "Royals decline option on closer Joakim Soria". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. October 31, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  13. "Rangers sign Joakim Soria". Espn.go.com. January 1, 2008. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  14. "Five Rangers relievers pitch scoreless inning in win vs. Astros". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 7, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  15. "Rangers getting closer to opening day roster". USA Today. Associated Press. March 22, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  16. "Tigers land All-Star reliever Soria from Rangers". MLB.com. July 23, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  17. "Tigers acquire closer Joakim Soria from Rangers". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 23, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  18. Zúñiga, Alejandro (July 23, 2015). "Soria notches milestone 200th save". MLB.com. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  19. Paul, Tony (July 30, 2015). "Tigers trade Soria to Pirates for SS Jones". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  20. "Royals bring back Joakim Soria". FOXSports. December 10, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  21. Stephen, Eric (January 4, 2018). "Dodgers acquire Scott Alexander in 3-team, 5-player trade". SB Nation. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  22. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2788035-joakim-soria-traded-to-brewers-white-sox-receive-pitching-prospects
  23. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/10/mike-moustakas-joakim-soria-decline-option-brewers.html
  24. "A's agree to 2-year deal with reliever Soria". Oakland Athletics. December 21, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  25. https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/athletics-ride-6-run-5th-to-win-over-cardinals
  26. https://www.mlb.com/player/joakim-soria-465657
  27. "Joakim Soria Pitch Fx at fangraphs.com". fangraphs.com. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  28. "Spring training 2011: Kansas City Royals' Joakim Soria wants to get rid of 'Mexicutioner' nickname". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
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