Rafael Soriano

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #1 prospect in 2003
  For a guy who didn't start pitching until 1999, Soriano has made remarkable progress. He spent his first two years in pro ball hitting .220 as an outfielder. After getting acclimated to the mound, Soriano ranked as one of the low Class A Midwest League's top pitching prospects in 2000 based primarily on his fastball, but he now projects as a three-pitch starter. Though his arrival at spring training in 2002 was delayed by three weeks while his identity and birthdate were being confirmed by immigration officials--none of Soriano's vital statistics changed--he pitched well enough at Double-A San Antonio to earn his first big league promotion in early May. After two scoreless relief appearances, he pitched well in five of his first six starts. Then he strained his shoulder and landed on the disabled list. Sent back to Double-A once he was healthy, Soriano won the Texas League championship game. He allowed one run and two hits in seven innings while striking out 14, including three against Rangers slugger Mark Teixeira. The Mariners were encouraged by Soriano's playoff performance because he had all three of his pitches working. He threw in the mid-90s and topped out at 97 mph and showed his usual hard slider. Best of all, he threw 12-15 changeups to keep a predominantly lefthanded lineup at bay. When he made the transition to the mound, Soriano quickly demonstrated polish and smooth mechanics. He is a true power pitcher, and his fastball/slider combination would allow him to close games if Seattle needs him in that role. Soriano missed the latter part of 2001 with an impingement in his shoulder, and the joint bothered him again last year. With a career high of just 137 innings, he has yet to prove he can handle a full-season grind. Soriano needs more consistency and trust in his changeup. He doesn't beat himself with walks but needs better command in the strike zone. The Mariners have two openings in their rotation, and Soriano is a prime candidate to fill one of them. Even if he starts 2003 at Triple-A Tacoma, Soriano will get called up before too long.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #2 prospect in 2002
  Soriano spent two years in the Rookie-level Arizona League as an outfielder, hitting .220 while his best tool clearly was his arm. Converted to the mound in 1999, he has been a quick learner. Last year he held hitters to a .174 average, second behind only Josh Beckett among minor league starters. Soriano's arm is nearly as live as Ryan Anderson's. His mid-90s fastball and hard slider give him two plus pitches. He's not a finished product by any means, but he has good polish considering his experience. That's especially true of his mechanics. He's still refining his changeup, but Soriano has made strides toward adding the third pitch he'll need as a starter. His control also needs tweaking. He missed the final three weeks of 2001 with a shoulder impingement after pitching a career-high 137 innings, so his durability is slightly in question. Based on his stuff, Soriano could go to Triple-A, but the Mariners may start him in Double-A this year so he can focus on his approach to pitching. He could be competing for a big league job in 2003.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #9 prospect in 2001
  A converted outfielder, Soriano has come a long way in just two years on the mound. He got a late start on the 2000 season, missing the entire month of April with elbow tendinitis. He was consistently effective, never lasting less than five innings in a start and allowing more than three earned runs just twice. Soriano brings heat in the 95-96 mph range, which he complements with a hard slider and fledgling changeup. Arms like his don't come around often. He took to pitching from the start and is overpowering enough to be excused for most beginners mistakes. His slider is further along than his changeup, but both have a lot of room for improvement. Without a full arsenal and with his development time as a pitcher limited, Soriano may be better suited for a bullpen role. But there aren't many starters with his fastball and the Mariners have enough pitching, so they'll take their time with him for now. Soriano could develop into a dominant closer down the road.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #2 prospect in 2003
  Soriano has been one of the majors' nastiest relievers this season. He had a 1.66 ERA, a 62-10 strikeout-walk ratio in 49 innings and a .159 opponent average. He could be the Mariners' closer of the near future--unless they make him a starter. Soriano's ability to refine his changeup will determine his role. He reminded the AL scout of Carlos Zambrano, who arrived in the PCL without much of a changeup and has blossomed into a frontline starter for the Cubs. Soriano already has two weapons: a slider that ranked as the best in the PCL and a lively 93-96 mph fastball. While pitching in Tacoma's rotation, he was just as unhittable as he was with Seattle.
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  Ranked Texas League #4 prospect in 2002
  Another converted hitter also made an impression in a limited run in the league. Soriano actually pitched more regular-season innings in the big leagues than the TL, going 0-3, 4.56 in Seattle before he went on the disabled list in July with shoulder soreness. When Soriano returned to action, the Mariners sent him back to San Antonio, where he continued to baffle Double-A hitters. He held them to a .190 average and saved his best work for the playoffs. In Game Seven of the finals, Soriano struck out 14 in seven innings as the Missions beat Tulsa 4-1 for their ninth league title. That game showed all Soriano has to offer. He gave up two hits and two walks and struck out seven of the last eight batters he faced, one with a 97-mph fastball and the next with an 82-mph changeup. The changeup, in addition to his slider, will allow Soriano to take the final step into the Seattle rotation, as he learns to pitch and not just try to throw the ball past everyone.
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  Ranked Texas League #4 prospect in 2001
  The converted outfielder made just eight TL starts but he made a big impression on both scouts and batters, chalking up 53 strikeouts in 48 innings with an explosive mid-90s fastball and a hard slider. "He's still learning to pitch but he's learning fast," San Antonio pitching coach Steve Peck said. "He has more than enough stuff to get batters out, and as he learns to use it more effectively he's going to present a problem to hitters at any level." For all his inexperience on the mound, Soriano has a natural delivery and few mechanical problems. He has developed a passable changeup, though it's the movement on his fastball that is his calling card. While he has encountered questions about his durability--he was shut down for the season's final three weeks with an impingement in his right shoulder--he has the stuff to develop into an intimidating closer.
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  Ranked California League #3 prospect in 2001
  It's amazing what Soriano has accomplished since being moved to the mound from the outfield after the 1998 season. A career .220 hitter, he held Cal League batters to an even more sickly .164 average. Packing an already lively fastball in the 95-mph range, Soriano improved his slider this season. Throw in an above-average changeup, and the future is promising. "He's going to be an outstanding top-of-the-rotation guy," Modesto manager Greg Sparks said. "He just dominates." Soriano still is learning the nuances of pitching, and the Mariners' depth in pitching will give him plenty of time to develop. His season ended three weeks early in Double-A because of a shoulder impingement, but he was back by instructional league.
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  Ranked Midwest League #20 prospect in 2000
  Soriano batted .220 in two seasons of Rookie ball as an outfielder before converting to the mound in 1999. Since then, opponents have had less success than he did, batting just .219 against him. He has plus velocity (low to mid-90s) and movement on his fastball, though the general consensus is that his other pitches need plenty of work. He has made some strides with his slider, and his changeup is further behind. While Soriano has been exclusively a starter, his fastball and current lack of secondary pitches may suit him better for relief.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #27 prospect in 2003
• Ranked Baseball America's #30 prospect in 2002

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Soriano batted .220 in two seasons of Rookie ball as an outfielder before converting to the mound in 1999. Since then, opponents have had less success than he did, batting just .219 against him. He has plus velocity (low to mid-90s) and movement on his fastball, though the general consensus is that his other pitches need plenty of work. He has made some strides with his slider, and his changeup is further behind. While Soriano has been exclusively a starter, his fastball and current lack of secondary pitches may suit him better for relief.