Rafael Soriano was born on December 19,1979 and is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher.
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30 Facts About Rafael Soriano
2.
Rafael Soriano played in Major League Baseball for the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, and Chicago Cubs.
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3.
Rafael Soriano was not well connected to Dominican trainers, who fed information to the most prominent Major League Baseball scouts.
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4.
Rafael Soriano attended the Dominican baseball academy of the St Louis Cardinals at the age of 16, but they opted not to sign him.
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5.
Rafael Soriano stopped training full-time and dropped out of school at 16 to work full-time in a carpentry shop.
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6.
Rafael Soriano refused to falsify his documents, and he left the Carp training facility, returning to work.
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7.
However, Rafael Soriano was able to throw as fast as 95 miles per hour in Arizona.
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9.
Rafael Soriano was promoted to the San Antonio Missions of the Class AA Texas League later in the season.
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10.
Rafael Soriano made his major league debut with the Mariners on May 10,2002, recording a save in the game.
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11.
Rafael Soriano spent the rest of the season in San Antonio, where he focused on improving his changeup and slider.
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12.
Rafael Soriano competed for a spot in the Mariners' starting rotation during spring training.
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13.
Rafael Soriano suffered a concussion on August 29,2006, after being struck behind the ear by a line drive hit from Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero.
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14.
Rafael Soriano was released from the hospital the following afternoon.
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15.
Rafael Soriano was traded to the Atlanta Braves from the Mariners on December 7,2006, in exchange for left-handed pitcher Horacio Ramirez.
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16.
Rafael Soriano had a mixed bag of success and disappointment in his first season in Atlanta, primarily serving as the setup man to closer Bob Wickman.
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17.
Rafael Soriano signed a two-year contract with the Braves worth US$9 million on January 24,2008.
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18.
Rafael Soriano won the Delivery Man of the Month Award for May 2010, and July 2010, becoming the first pitcher to earn that honor twice in one season.
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19.
Rafael Soriano won the award a third time for August 2010, joining Joe Nathan and Trevor Hoffman as the only three-time winners of the monthly award.
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20.
Rafael Soriano was named to the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game to replace an injured Mariano Rivera.
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21.
Rafael Soriano became the sixth major-league pitcher to record a save while doing so.
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22.
Rafael Soriano led the American League in saves at the end of the 2010 season, with 45.
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24.
Rafael Soriano was originally designated as the set-up pitcher to closer Mariano Rivera.
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25.
Rafael Soriano picked up his first save as a Yankee against the Blue Jays on April 20,2011.
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26.
Rafael Soriano had spent most of his Yankee career as the 7th inning pitcher in front of David Robertson and Rivera.
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27.
Rafael Soriano opted out of the final year of his contract on October 31,2012, making him a free agent.
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28.
On February 28,2016, Rafael Soriano signed a minor league contract with an invite to spring training with the Toronto Blue Jays.
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29.
Rafael Soriano has been referred to as very "deliberate" with his pitching style.
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30.
Rafael Soriano has given money to children to receive surgery, and often buys Christmas presents for the local children.
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