(born
October 9 ,
1979 ) is a
Major League Baseball Pitcher who is currently a free agent.
Soler was born in
Pinar Del Rio ,
Cuba , where he attended high school at Espa Armani Arenado and played baseball for four years. He graduated from Nancy Uranga University with a physical education degree.
Soler played baseball for his country in the World University Games in Cuba in 1998 and in
Italy in 2002. He also participated in the World Youth Games in 1996 and was a teammate of
José Contreras on
Pinar Del Río in the
Cuban National Series . He later played as a member of the
Cuban National Team .
Soler defected from Cuba in November, 2003, receiving
Political Asylum in the
Dominican Republic . He pitched for
Leones Del Escogido in the
Dominican Winter Baseball League in 2004, recording a 0-2 record and a 5.28 ERA in five games. In 15.1 innings, he allowed 14 hits, nine runs, earned, with six walks and 23 strikeouts. He recorded 10 strikeouts and permitted one hit in 5.0 innings of work on October 26 vs.
Estrellas Orientales . Soler averaged 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
In September, 2004, Soler signed a three-year, $2.8 million major league contract with the New York Mets. However, he was unable to obtain a visa for entry into the United States until November, 2005. He began his career as a Met with the class A
St. Lucie Mets in April, 2006, but was quickly promoted to the AA
Binghamton Mets in May, 2006.
Soler made his major league debut as a starter at
Shea Stadium on
May 24 ,
2006 . He gave up two earned runs, five hits and four walks in six innings with no decision as the Mets defeated the
Philadelphia Phillies 5-4. In Soler's fourth career start (
June 10 ,
2006 ) he hurled his first complete game shutout, a two-hitter against the
Arizona Diamondbacks . Through the first half of
2006 , Soler has posted a 2-3 record with a 6.00 ERA.
On July 3, 2006, Soler was sent back to the
Norfolk Tides after a poor performance the night before against the
New York Yankees .
Soler was given his unconditional release by the Mets on March 12, 2007. He had pitched unimpressively during spring training. On March 19, 2007 he signed with the
Pittsburgh Pirates . At the beginning of the season, Soler was assigned to the Pirates Double A affliate, the
Altoona Curve . He went 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 14 appearances before being released on
June 28 ,
2007 .
