Scouting Report

Scouting Report: George Soriano

When the St. Louis Cardinals brought George Soriano into the fold, it wasn’t a headline move — it was a baseball move.

Soriano profiles as a right-handed reliever built on command and movement rather than pure velocity. He works primarily with a sinking fastball and a slider combination, keeping the ball down in the zone and forcing hitters to put it in play. He’s not a strikeout artist by reputation, but he competes — and that matters over the long haul of a season.

What He Brings

• Ground-ball tendencies – Soriano’s sinker keeps the ball down, which can neutralize power hitters when executed properly.
• Pitch mix discipline – He doesn’t try to be something he’s not. He works his strengths and trusts his movement.
• Versatility – Soriano has experience in middle relief and longer bridge roles, which gives the bullpen flexibility.
• Mound presence – He works at a steady pace and doesn’t rattle easily — a trait the Cardinals value.

What to Watch

The key for Soriano will be consistency. When he commands the sinker early in counts, he can control innings. When he falls behind, hitters can square him up.

The difference between a reliable bullpen arm and a fringe piece often comes down to that first-pitch strike.

For a club looking to reestablish fundamentals after 2025, Soriano fits the profile of a pitcher who can quietly stabilize innings without chasing strikeout headlines.

He won’t be asked to carry the bullpen.

But he may be asked to steady it.

And sometimes, that’s exactly what a team needs.