With every rebuilding squad, you’re only going to be as good as the prospects you’re developing. With some downtime in the darkest part of the baseball calendar, what better time to get to know one of the less-heralded prospects in the Miami Marlins organization?
Dominican-born righty George Soriano has been a fast-rising name in the Marlins’ pipeline after a 2022 season that saw him take a major leap in development. In fact, he wound up making the jump all the way up to #41 on OSA’s end of year Top 100 Prospects list after not even making the Marlins’ Top 20 prospects at the beginning of the season.
Originally signed as an international free agent in the 2015 signing period for a lower signing bonus, Soriano spent his age-16 season in the DSL holding his own - 56 Ks in 55.2 IP with only 3 HR allowed and a 3.56 ERA over 17 G/9 GS. After missing his age-17 year recovering from elbow surgery, Soriano came back in 2018 and showed another level to his game - striking out 4 batters for every 1 he walked, and not allowing a single home run in 42.1 IP en route to a 1.91 ERA.
His age-19 season saw him make the leap to full-season ball - even as the youngest pitcher on the Clinton LumberKings, he held his own over 20 starts (119.2 IP) - he put up 50 BB & 99 Ks in that time while continuing to limit the longball (only 8 dingers allowed.)
After COVID wiped out the 2020 minor league season, Soriano started his 2021 season with the Low-A Jupiter Hammerheads - but after 7 strong starts spread over 34 IP in which he struck out 47 and only allowed 3 HRs, Soriano was promoted to the High-A Beloit Sky Carp and continued his strong performance - 11 GS, 55.1 IP, 67 more Ks while lowering his BB/9 from 4.8 to 3.1, and still keeping the ball in the park (5 HR allowed).
2022 saw a new GM taking over the Marlins in Jackie Daytona, and the new regime decided to let Soriano play out the full season repeating High-A with Beloit. Soriano continued his strong results - 163 Ks in 146 IP spread out over 27 starts, with the only concern coming from his slight jump in home runs allowed (1.5 HR/9).
Soriano made huge strides in his game throughout the year that may not have necessarily translated to his numbers, though - including adding a tick to his fastball to sit at 94-95 after starting the year in the 92-93 range. His control continued to improve and as it stands right now, he has MLB-ready stuff & control with a plus fastball & changeup, with his out pitch being a plus-plus curveball.
Soriano will be starting 2023 in Double-A but after being added to Miami’s 40-man roster, he’s got a good shot to make his MLB debut with a strong performance in Pensacola. The 24 year old really has a chance to make an impact on this year’s Marlins, and head scout D.J. Svihlik projects out his ceiling to that of a #3-4 starter.