Joakim Soria, Relief Pitcher

Date of Birth: 5/18/1984
Birthplace: Monclova, Mexico

Joakim Soria, relief pitcher, was first signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in October, 2001. After three years in their minor league system, the Dodgers released him in October, 2004. He played in the Mexican Baseball League in 2005.

The San Diego Padres signed Soria in December, 2005. He spent 2006 in the Padres' minor league system and in the Mexican Baseball League. On December 9, 2006, he pitched a perfect game in the Mexican Winter League. Later that month, the Kansas City Royals acquired him in the Rule 5 draft.

Soria pitched in 62 games with the Royals in 2007. He had a 2.48 ERA, 17 saves, and career highs in innings pitched (69.0) and strikeouts (75 to just 19 walks).

Soria signed a three-year, $8.75 million contract extension with the Royals on May 17, 2008. As their closer in 2008, he had 42 saves and a career low ERA of 1.60 in 67.1 innings in 63 games. The following season, he spent time on the DL with a sore right shoulder. He finished the 2009 season with a 2.21 ERA in 47 games.

In 2010, Soria had a career high 43 saves and a 1.78 ERA in 66 games with the Royals. The following season, he had a 4.03 ERA in 60 games.

Soria had Tommy John surgery in March, 2012, and he missed the entire 2012 season. He became a free agent after the season ended and he signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Texas Rangers on December 4, 2012. He spent time on the DL in 2013, recovering from TJ surgery. He finished the season with a 3.80 ERA in 26 games.

The Rangers traded Soria to the Detroit Tigers on July 23, 2014. He spent time on the DL with an oblique strain in 2014, and his playing time was limited to 44.1 innings in 35 games with the Rangers and 13 games with the Tigers. He had a 3.25 ERA.

Soria lasted just a year with the Tigers, being traded on July 30, 2015, to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He finished the 2015 season with a 2.53 ERA in 43 games with the Tigers and 29 games with the Pirates.

Soria became a free agent on November 2, 2015. A month later, on December 10th, he agreed to return to the Royals on a three-year, $25 million contract. In 2016, he had a career high ERA of 4.05 in 70 games. He finished the season with 5 wins and 8 losses, 1 save, and 68 strikeouts to 27 walks in 66.2 innings.

Soria finished the 2017 season with 4 wins and 3 losses, 1 save, 64 strikeouts to 20 walks, and a 3.70 ERA in 56.0 innings in 59 games.

The Royals traded Soria to the Dodgers on January 4, 2018. The Dodgers then turned around and immediately traded him to the Chicago White Sox. He was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on July 26, 2018. He finished the 2018 season with 3 wins and 4 losses, 16 saves, 75 strikeouts to 16 walks, and a 3.12 ERA in 60.2 innings in 40 games with the White Sox and 26 games with the Brewers. In the postseason, he pitched 4.2 innings in 7 games and he gave up 5 hits and 4 runs. He struck out 8 batters and walked 3.

Soria became a free agent on October 30, 2018. He signed with the Oakland Athletics on December 21, 2018. He finished the 2019 season with 2 wins and 4 losses, 1 save, 79 strikeouts to 20 walks, and a 4.30 ERA in 69.0 innings in 71 games. He didn't pitch in the postseason.

Soria pitched in 22 games in 2020. He finished the season with 2 wins and 2 losses, 24 strikeouts to 10 walks, 2 saves, and a 2.82 ERA in 22.1 innings. In the postseason, he pitched 4.0 innings in 4 games, and he gave up 5 hits and 3 runs.

Soria elected free agency on October 28, 2020. He signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks on February 6, 2021. He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 30, 2021. He spent time on the IL in 2021. He finished the season with 1 win and 4 losses, 6 saves, 40 strikeouts to 12 walks, and a 5.06 ERA in 37.1 innings in 31 games with the Diamondbacks and 10 games with the Blue Jays.

Soria became a free agent on November 3, 2021.

Career pitching statistics for Soria through 2021 include:

• 773 games played
• 763.0 innings pitched
• 36-45 win-loss record
• 229 saves
• 831 strikeouts to 231 walks
• 3.11 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Joakim Soria
ESPN - Joakim Soria