Joakim Soria

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #13 prospect in 2007
  Several teams were interested in trading up to get Soria in the major league Rule 5 draft at the 2006 Winter Meetings, but the Royals held onto the No. 2 overall pick and claimed him for themselves. Having pitched just 16 2/3 innings in the United States since the Dodgers signed him as a 17-year-old in 2001, he was tough to evaluate. He missed all of 2003 recovering from Tommy John surgery, got released in 2004 and spent most of the last two seasons pitching in the Mexican League. The Padres bought his contract from the Mexico City Red Devils in December 2005, then loaned him back to the club in 2006. Soria generated buzz by going 8- 0, 2.02 in the winter Mexican Pacific League before the Rule 5 draft. He works off an 89-93 mph fastball with late movement, and he can locate it to both sides of the plate. He also flashes a plus changeup and keeps both pitches down in the strike zone. His curveball is average, though he'll sometimes fly open in his mechanics and leaves it up. Soria, who threw a perfect game in his first outing after Kansas City selected him, has to stay on the major league roster throughout 2007, or else clear waivers and be offered back to San Diego for half his $50,000 draft price. That shouldn't be an issue, and he should stick with the Royals as a swingman.