The St. Louis Cardinals may have discovered an unexpected standout this spring in hard-throwing pitcher George Soriano.
With the 2026 MLB season just days away, St. Louis is set to open at home against the Tampa Bay Rays at Busch Stadium. After weeks of preparation and roster trimming including the recent cut of young reliever Gordon Graceffo the team is nearly ready, with only a final decision in left field remaining.
While much of the conversation has centered on that open spot, Soriano has quietly made a strong impression. The 26-year-old right-hander has been dominant throughout camp, positioning himself as one of the team’s most surprising contributors.
Soriano has earned a place in the Opening Day bullpen thanks to an outstanding spring. Across eight appearances, he has yet to allow an earned run, striking out 11 batters over eight innings without issuing a single walk. Though he’s given up seven hits and one unearned run, his overall performance has been electric.
Despite a career 5.95 ERA over 72 MLB appearances, Soriano is showing signs of a potential breakout. He joined St. Louis this offseason in a trade with the Washington Nationals that sent Andre Granillo the other way a deal that appears promising for both sides so far.
Coming into camp needing to prove himself, Soriano has done exactly that. With the rotation and bullpen now set, he’s secured his spot for Opening Day. Once the Cardinals finalize their left field situation, they’ll be fully prepared to begin the new season.
Leave a Reply