NEW YORK, NY — José Soriano of the Los Angeles Angels has been one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball history through his first five starts this season.
The 27-year-old right-hander from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic is 5-0 with an ERA of 0.28 and a WHIP of 0.73, which all lead MLB. His 39 strikeouts ranks fourth in MLB on the year and third in the American League.
“For me, the key is going to be throwing strikes,” Soriano said to Latino Sports in a recent interview as the Angels were visiting the Bronx to take on the Yankees.
“I think that’s the most important thing in the game. When you throw strikes, everything can work.”
José Soriano is the first pitcher in MLB history to post a sub-0.50 ERA and allow 15 or fewer hits in his first five appearances of a season since earned runs were made official in 1913 (30 innings minimum) – Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
Soriano is in his fourth-career MLB season, signing with the Angels as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2016. This season, he has relied heavily on his sinker and curveball, along with his four-seam fastball that maxes out around 98-MPH. Soriano also offers a splitter and slider.
“I feel like all my pitches are clicking right now,” he said. “I think I can use every pitch anytime I want, and that’s one of the most important things, trying to have all my pitches in shape.”
This confidence is showing with just one run allowed over five starts. Soriano is the only pitcher in MLB history since the late Fernando Valenzuela—an icon for all of Mexico and a legend with the Dodgers—to have a sub 0.30 ERA through his first five starts in a minimum of 30 innings since 1950.
Additionally, while posting a MLB leading bWAR of 2.1, Soriano is doing this all against tough competition—vs. the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and, in his most recent start, against the San Diego Padres.
“In the offseason, I tried to work hard and smart, trying to be healthy as much as possible,” Soriano said of his early-season success. “Right now, I have had a very successful four outings, and I think this offseason, I prepared very well.”
Soriano pitched against the Padres after the series at Yankee Stadium, and went 5.2 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts to earn the win, his fifth in 2026.
The Angels, standing 11-14 in the early going, have a fighter’s chance in a jumbled-up AL West division, trailing the first-place Rangers, followed by the Athletics but in front of the Mariners and Astros.
Soriano is keeping them afloat for now and every time he takes the ball has become must-watch television.
He won’t be able to maintain this pace, but a breakout season and All-Star appearance aren’t out of the question for Soriano. He could even pass his career high bWAR of 2.3, which he set last season in his next start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, April 22nd in Anaheim.
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