Rafael Soriano

Rafael Soriano
Soriano with the Washington Nationals in 2014
Pitcher
Born: (1979-12-19) December 19, 1979 (age 37) San José de los Llanos, Dominican Republic
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 10, 2002, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
July 30, 2015, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	24–28
Earned run average	2.89
Strikeouts	641
Saves	207
Teams
Seattle Mariners (2002–2006) Atlanta Braves (2007–2009) Tampa Bay Rays (2010) New York Yankees (2011–2012) Washington Nationals (2013–2014) Chicago Cubs (2015)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (2010) AL Rolaids Relief Man Award (2010) AL saves leader (2010)

Rafael Soriano (born December 19, 1979) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, and Chicago Cubs.

Soriano was an All-Star in 2010. That year, he also led the American League (AL) in saves, and was named the winner of the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award for May, July, and August, and the AL Rolaids Relief Man Award in the postseason.

Soriano was born in San José de los Llanos, Dominican Republic. He lived in Boca Chica. By age 8, he played in weekly baseball tournaments in Santo Domingo. However, his mother, Magali, who worked as a housekeeper, often could not afford the twenty dominican pesos it cost for him to make the trip. Soriano would sometimes perform chores for the team's manager, who would then pay for the trip.

Soriano was not well connected to Dominican trainers, who fed information to the most prominent Major League Baseball scouts. Instead, he learned to play baseball through his uncles and his own determination. Soriano attended the Dominican baseball academy of the St. Louis Cardinals at the age of 16, but they opted not to sign him.