Remember the Name: José Soriano Emerges

Mo. Basuony

Published: April 17, 2026 11:58 PM ET

José Soriano has opened the 2026 season as one of baseball’s most dominant starters. The 27-year-old Dominican right-hander for the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim owns a 4-0 record, a 0.33 ERA and a 0.67 WHIP through four starts.

He has thrown 27 innings, allowed one run and nine hits. Soriano has struck out 31 batters and will make his fifth start tonight.

Early-season performance

Soriano’s early numbers show elite control and swing-and-miss stuff. Opponents have struggled to square up his pitches. His strikeout rate has risen with improved command and fewer walks.

Last year he flashed dominance but suffered a few disastrous outings. In 2025 he had four starts that inflated his season totals, including two games with eight earned runs allowed and two others with seven.

Pitch mix and effectiveness

His arsenal includes a four-seam fastball, a sinker, a knuckle curve and a splitter. The four-seam averages about 98 mph, while the sinker sits near 97 mph.

Soriano uses the sinker most often. That pitch has helped him lead Major League Baseball in groundballs. Career numbers show about 0.6 home runs allowed per nine innings and a groundball rate near 62 percent.

Adjustments for 2026

This season he increased four-seam usage to become less predictable. The four-seam has gained roughly one mile per hour in velocity.

He is also throwing the curveball harder and improving the downward action on the splitter. Batters have hit just .067 against his sinker this year.

Command and health

Improved command has been central to his success. He is locating more strikes on the edges and issuing fewer walks. That balance has raised his quality-of-strike percentage and boosted strikeouts.

Soriano’s career includes two Tommy John surgeries. Those procedures delayed his rise to consistent big-league work. Health remains a key factor for his long-term outlook.

Outlook

Soriano’s current form positions him as a top rotation anchor.
With sustained health, he could contend for the league’s top pitching honors.
Following his starts has become essential for fans and analysts alike.

Remember the name — José Soriano emerges as one of the most intriguing arms early this season. Filmogaz.com will monitor his progress as the year unfolds.